Passengers on board a Disney cruise where a young girl fell overboard have recalled hearing a 'commotion' as the terrifying incident unfolded.
On Sunday (29 June) a child travelling on a Disney Dream cruise fell overboard while the ship was travelling between the Caribbean islands and Florida.
Moments after the child fell into the water her father made the brave decision to dive in after her. The hero dad was able to reach his daughter and tread water while a rescue boat was dispatched to the pair.
According to a statement from Disney both passengers were returned to the ship 'within minutes' of the incident happening.
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"The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," a spokesperson for Disney Cruise Line said.
"We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes."
It's unclear how the girl had fallen overboard as the ship has plexiglass safety barriers on the upper decks to ensure passenger safety.
Meanwhile passengers have since come forward to share their recollections of the incident online.
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One woman recalled the horrifying noise of the moment the girl hit the water, telling PEOPLE she remembered hearing 'some kind of commotion'.
"There was some kind of commotion," she said. "Then this awful scream from what I assume is the mother and then this massive splash.
"It sounded like hitting pavement, nothing like if you jump into a pool, it was so loud."
The woman, who gave her name as Chandler to the outlet, explained that she and her family went out onto the balcony to get a better look at the incident, adding that life vests were thrown into the water while 'MOB [Man overboard] port side' was called out over the loudspeakers.
Videos of the shocking moment have since emerged on social media, with other witnesses sharing their accounts.
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"It was so intense to watch," one woman wrote on Facebook, while a second added: "Didn’t even know a cruise ship could do a 180 degree turn that quick."
Meanwhile Chandler added that she was relieved the father and daughter were rescued, as she had been preparing her children for the worst case scenario.
"I had to tell my own nine-year-old daughter Harper they were probably gone [because] they usually can’t find people who fall," she said.
"I didn’t think they’d find them."
Topics: US News, Cruise Ship, Disney
Brenna Cooper