How girl, 5, fell off Disney cruise finally revealed as mother's chilling instruction is released by authorities
Topics: Disney, Florida, US News, Cruise ship
Ben Williams
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Horacio Villalobos
Topics: Disney, Florida, US News, Cruise ship
More details have been revealed about the unfortunate incident that saw a five-year-old fall into the ocean from a Disney cruise ship.
It was supposed to be a dream family vacation with sunshine, sea air, and smiles aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship. But what began as a picture-perfect getaway for one family ended in horror when the young girl suddenly vanished overboard into the waves below.
The terrifying incident unfolded on June 29 this year, as the ship was making its way back to Florida from the Bahamas.
Passengers described panic spreading through the decks after a 'MOB port side' - the emergency code which means 'man overboard' - announcement was made.
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Moments later, crew members rushed to launch a rescue boat into the sea.
Witnesses hailed the little girl’s father a 'hero' after he jumped in to save her, treading water for almost 20 minutes before they were both pulled to safety.
Videos from onlookers showed a rescue team racing to reach them, while passengers clapped as they were brought back on board.
But months later, authorities have revealed the real reason the girl fell and it wasn’t what many first believed.
According to a newly released police report, noted by the Daily Mail, the child’s mother had reportedly told her daughter to pose for a picture in front of a porthole just moments before she lost her balance and plunged into the sea.
The report states the family had been walking along deck four when the mother pointed to the opening and 'offered for her daughter to take a picture in the porthole'.
Investigators said the mom 'assumed the porthole had a window or plexiglass, and she thought that [her daughter] would be caught by the glass, but instead, she kept falling'.
According to the report, authorities said the mom even took several photos in rapid succession. These were images that 'when streamed together… depict a seconds-long video of the child getting up on the railing and falling backwards into the water'.
Detective Christopher Favitta, of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, later inspected the scene himself, writing: “Upon looking at the window myself, as a prudent person, I immediately saw that the window was open to the air, and did not have a covering.
“This act, facilitated by [the mother] placed the child in a life-threatening situation. As a result, the child fell from the ship and into the water, in an avoidable accident.”
Despite Detective Favitta’s recommendation to pursue charges, the state attorney ultimately declined, saying the mother’s actions were 'negligent and irresponsible' but did not meet the legal threshold for 'criminal culpable negligence', as reported by the Daily Mail.
UNILAD has contacted the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.