No Charges in Disney Dream Child Fall

On June 29 aboard the Disney Dream, a 5-year-old girl climbed onto a porthole railing on Deck 4 to pose for a photo, lost her balance and fell about 49–50 feet into the ocean. Her father jumped into the water in under a minute and ship crew activated man‑overboard protocols; the U.S. Coast Guard also responded and both were recovered in about 20 minutes. The child was treated for mild hypothermia and the father sustained two spinal fractures. Investigators reviewed footage and said the railing was about 44 inches tall, open porthole‑style windows were present, and the child was too small to trigger the ship’s man‑overboard sensors. Broward County prosecutors said the mother’s conduct was negligent and "arguably irresponsible" but did not meet the legal threshold for criminal culpable negligence, so no charges were filed; surveillance and viral video of the rescue led some outlets to identify the parents as Michelle and Keegan Sapp.