HAPPY ENDING! Father Dives Off Disney Dream Cruise Ship and Saves His Child Who Fell Overboard
By Space Coast Daily // June 30, 2025
child had been sitting on a railing while the father took a photo when the child suddenly slipped and fell into the water
ABOVE VIDEO: Father jumps overboard to save his daughter on a Disney cruise.
BREVARD COUNTY • PORT EVERGLADES, FLORIDA – A father and his child were rescued Sunday afternoon after falling overboard the Disney Dream cruise ship during a voyage from Florida to the Bahamas.
This incredible incident occurred as the huge cruise ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale from a four-night Bahamian cruise that included a stop at Disney’s private island, Lookout Cay, located at Lighthouse Point.
Although overboard incidents on cruise ships, while rare, are often fatal, both father and daughter were promptly rescued from the water, Disney officials said.
According to a 2022 report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), between 2009 and 2019, out of 212 people who fell overboard, only 48 were rescued, resulting in a survival rate of between 17% and 25%.
Passenger Gar Frantz said the child had been sitting on a railing while the father took a photo when the child suddenly slipped and fell into the water. The father immediately jumped in after the child from the fourth deck of the ship.
“We watched it happen. It was crazy, it was horrific,” Frantz said to NBC News, recalling the moment from the fourth-floor deck.
Another passenger, Gail Merrick, said she was playing bingo when she noticed a commotion on deck. She saw a yellow rescue boat deployed and was told that both a child and her father were in the water.
“We were watching with bated breath,” Merrick said. “Everyone was hoping they’d be found quickly.”
The ship turned around, and the crew located and rescued the pair within minutes. Applause broke out onboard once they were safely back.
Disney Cruise Line confirmed the incident in a statement: “Our crew swiftly rescued two guests from the water. We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship.”
No identifying details were released, and it’s unclear exactly where the incident occurred. The U.S. Coast Guard has not commented.
Passenger James Tackett said he felt the ship make a sharp turn and later learned a little girl had fallen and her father jumped in to save her. “When they got them back, everyone cheered,” he said.
Brenda Tackett, his mother, praised the crew’s response. “The Disney Cruise Line staff were phenomenal,” she said. “You could tell they’ve trained for this. Everything happened in 10 or 15 minutes.”
After the rescue, the cruise continued as planned. “Thankfully, it turned out positive,” Merrick said. “We were able to enjoy the rest of the cruise.”
