Father Of The Year Nominee Jumped Off The 4th Deck of a Disney Cruise Ship To Save His 5 Year Old Daughter Who Fell Overboard

7/01/2025 1:30 PM

Fox News- A family vacation aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream took a terrifying turn when a father reportedly jumped into the ocean to save his daughter after she fell overboard.
Thanks to the response from the ship’s crew, both were rescued within minutes.
The June 29 incident occurred as the Disney Dream was returning to Fort Lauderdale following a four-night Bahamian itinerary, which included a stop at Disney’s new private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson confirmed the successful rescue:
"The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water. 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."

Thank God this story ended happily.

This little girl probably has zero idea of what occurred. And will most likely have zero recollection of it when she’s older. But I hope that whoever this father out there is, if he sees this blog, he screenshots it for 10-12 years down the road, when his daughter tries to pull some teenage angst bullshit on him, upset that he won’t let her stay out past curfew or something and tries to tell him what a bad parent he is.

He better not even say a word. All he needs to do is show her the headline and remind her of the time she fell off a cruise ship and he dove off a skyscraper basically, like Hasselhoff, into the ocean to save her.

Giphy Images.

And while he’s at it, this father better never get nagged by his wife, or have to buy a meal, or park pass, or anything on a Disney property ever again. This was an act of heroism but at the same time I feel like it was a move that any father of a five year old pulls without even thinking twice 100 times out of 100.

I say it all too often, but I don’t know how parents do it man.

Life is hard enough worrying about yourself and keeping your own shit in check. Factor in a kid, or multiple, and all bets are off. I’m amazed by it all. The patience, the stamina, the expenses, staying sane. Having kids has to be the ultimate test. But at the same time, the ultimate reward. My friends with kids all couldn’t be happier, or have a better outlook on life. Sure, they’re losing their minds and haven’t got a solid nights sleep in years, but at least their lives have real purpose now.

We have a new leader in the clubhouse for father of the year. And this one’s going to be tough to beat.