The five-year-old girl fell some 50ft from a Disney Cruise ship into the sea below with her dad jumping in after just a few seconds later – criminal charges were later sought against the girl’s family
A five-year-old girl who fell 50 feet from a Disney Cruise ship was asked to pose for a photo in front of an open porthole, according to authorities.
The young girl lost her balance while standing in front of the porthole while she and her mum and dad were travelling on the Disney Dream cruise ship. She fell into the open sea, with her dad jumping in after her just 45 seconds later.
False rumours spread shortly afterward that the dad had raised her onto the railing for a photo. Authorities in Florida now claim the girl fell in after she was asked to pose next to the railing by her mother.
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A mayday call went out and a yellow rescue boat was deployed three minutes after the girl fell into the sea.
The girl suffered no serious injuries. Her dad was later treated for an unspecified issue.
Criminal charges had been recommended against the mum, but the June 29 incident did not equate to “criminal culpable negligence”. As a result, Florida’s state attorney decline to prosecute.
State attorney Melissa Kelly said in a September 16 statement: “While the defendant’s conduct is arguably negligent and irresponsible, it does not rise to the egregious level of conduct necessary to establish criminal culpable negligence.”
The Broward County sheriff questioned the parents and they gave matching accounts that were the same as that on security camera footage. The case has since been closed
The mum is alleged to have told police she took several other photos of her daughter near the railings during the trip. The police report said: “She provided me with a picture of [the girl] laying in a porthole with a window on it.”
The mum is alleged to have said “she felt like there should be coverings on the windows,” and added “Disney is responsible for what occurred,” the police report said.
The Mirror has contacted Disney Cruises for comment.