Staff Reports
It’s not every day one hears about a daring rescue involving a family vacation turning into a heart-stopping moment of bravery. But such was the case on what should have been a relaxing Disney cruise. Imagine the horror: a child plunging into the ocean from the fourth deck of a massive ship. And who was there to save the day? Not a fairy godmother or Prince Charming, but the child’s own father, who heroically jumped into the water to save her.
Reports suggest that the father was trying to take a picture of his daughter as she posed on a railing. Now, some might raise an eyebrow at the choice of location for a photoshoot, but hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. The cruise was making its leisurely journey between Fort Lauderdale and the Bahamas when this potential tragedy was averted by swift parental instinct and a whole lot of adrenaline.
The father’s ability to tread water for nearly 20 minutes certainly left an impression on those aboard. It’s not exactly what they print in the brochure’s fine print about potential vacation activities! The cruise line has remained coy regarding the details of the incident but did express their admiration for their crew’s quick actions. They touted the incident as a testament to their safety protocols, proving that sometimes, the safety drill isn’t just a chance to line up and don a neon orange life vest.
Thankfully, the story ended with everyone safe and sound. It’s the sort of happy ending that even Walt Disney himself would approve of, although he’d probably like to keep the dramatic plunging off decks to a minimum. Perhaps this incident will serve as an unintended reminder to many vacationing families: the railings are better left for leaning, not lounging.
While this particular Disney trip didn’t include any castles or glass slippers, it sure did have enough drama to rival any afternoon soap opera. Here’s hoping future cruises involve a bit more “Hakuna Matata” and a lot less cliffhanging suspense.
