A 5-year-old girl fell 50 feet from a Disney Cruise ship after being asked to pose for a photo next to an open porthole, as reported by authorities. The incident occurred while the girl, along with her parents, was on the Disney Dream cruise ship. She lost her balance and fell into the open sea, prompting her father to jump in after her within 45 seconds.
Contrary to initial rumors, it was clarified by Florida authorities that the girl fell into the sea after being asked to stand next to the railing by her mother, not that her father had lifted her onto the railing for a photo. A distress call was made, and a rescue boat was deployed promptly after the incident.
Fortunately, the girl sustained no serious injuries, while her father received treatment for an unspecified issue. Although criminal charges were considered against the mother, the incident on June 29 was deemed not to meet the threshold of “criminal culpable negligence,” leading to the decision by Florida’s state attorney not to pursue prosecution.
State attorney Melissa Kelly stated on September 16 that while the mother’s actions could be seen as negligent and irresponsible, they did not amount to the level of conduct required for criminal culpable negligence. Following questioning by Broward County sheriff, the parents provided consistent accounts, supported by security camera footage, leading to the closure of the case.
According to reports, the mother admitted to taking several photos of her daughter near the railings during the trip, including one where the girl was seen near a porthole. She expressed concerns about the lack of coverings on the windows and attributed responsibility to Disney for the incident.
The Mirror has reached out to Disney Cruises for comment on this matter.