The moment a fearless dad jumped into the sea after his daughter fell overboard from a Disney cruise ship has been captured.
Cruise ships may well be extremely popular for people on their holidays these days, but they certainly have their cons, with people who spend too much time there often struggling with sea legs.
Captains often have to deal with choppy conditions and rough waters which can cause problems, but the prospect of someone falling overboard on a cruise ship is thankfully rare.
However it was confirmed that yesterday on Sunday 29 June, a child fell overboard while the Disney dream ship was between the Caribbean islands and Florida.
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Passenger Kevin Furuta wrote on Facebook: "On the last day of our Dream voyage and it is an at sea day. A girl fell overboard from the fourth deck and her dad went in after her.
"Right after the incident we heard on the loud speaker MOB (man overboard) Port side!! Thankfully the DCL rescue team was on it immediately and both were saved!"
Another passenger Laura Amador told CBS the dad and his daughter 'became tiny dots in the sea, and then you lost sight of them' because of how fast the cruise ship was moving.
The captain had to turn the ship around and deploy a tender boat to rescue them.
The dad managed to rescue the daughter and stayed with her until the rescue boat arrived, when he handed her over first before jumping in himself, with concerned cruise ship passengers giving them both a roaring cheer as they made their way back on board.
"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," a spokesperson for Disney Cruises told USA Today.
"We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols."
A TikTok video also captured the moment that they were eventually rescued with commenters speculating on how the girl initially fell, as the ship should have plexiglass safety barriers on its decks.
Obviously, the higher up you go, the less chance you have of surviving and it's very fortunate that both were seemingly unharmed when they were eventually picked up.
People who jump from cruise ships intentionally can be banned for jumping from them into the sea, as one man found out after he admitted to diving into the sea from the 11th deck and somehow surviving.
So, if you're thinking of joining in with the folks who have been selling all their belongings to live at sea, and maybe you're a little clumsier than most, remember to take care on the deck.
Topics: Parenting
James Moorhouse