Father Who Jumped Off Disney Cruise to Rescue Daughter Says He Lost Sight of Her in Waves as She Called Out: Police

NEED TO KNOW

• The father who jumped off a Disney Cruise after his daughter fell overboard has described the rescue in element

• According to a police report obtained by PEOPLE, investigators realized he had “difficulty locating his daughter in the water and admitted losing visual contact”

• The dad instructed his daughter to “keep yelling so he could find her” amid the waves

The father who jumped off a Disney Cruise after his daughter fell overboard has described the terrifying episode in element to police.

On Sunday, June 29, the Disney Dream ship was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after a four-night cruise to the Bahamas. Around 11:30 a.m. local time, a 5-year-old woman went overboard, falling 49 toes into the ocean. The woman’s father subsequently jumped in after her. Luckily, both relations have been pulled out of the water by rescue crews and returned safely to the vessel.

According to newly launched police experiences obtained by PEOPLE from Florida’s Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County State Attorney’s workplace, the woman’s mom had allegedly inspired the 5-year-old to pose for a picture close to an open porthole. The woman climbed and sat atop the railing before shedding her steadiness and falling backwards. According to investigators, the mom said she believed there was a masking for the opening behind the 47-inch-tall railing.

From a hospital room at Broward Health Medical Center, the daddy described the rescue in element to investigators.

“He reported that the family had been walking on deck 4 when his wife stopped to take a photo of their daughter sitting on the railing,” deputy David Argenti wrote. “He stated that he was approximately 10 feet ahead and did not witness the fall.”

After listening to his spouse scream, he turned around and noticed his daughter in the water. About 45 seconds later, he jumped in himself to attempt a rescue.

“He noted difficulty locating his daughter in the water and admitted losing visual contact temporarily,” the report said. “He was eventually able to reach her and tread water with her until they were rescued.”

The report added: “He expressed surprise and relief at their survival.”

The father told detective Christopher Favitta he “was not able to see” his daughter “due to the waves.” He instead began to call out her name and heard her respond. The dad instructed her to “keep yelling so he could find her.”

“After an unknown amount of time lapsed [the father] located [her] in the water,” the detective wrote. “He described her as conscious and talking, and she did not have any flotation devices,” though several were reportedly thrown down from the ship.

While man overboard incidents are rare, the chances of survival are slim too. According to a 2020 report from the Cruise Lines International Association, between 2009 and 2019, there were 212 man overboard incidents. Only 48 were successful rescues.

After speaking with Dr. Chante Charles, the lead doctor for the ship, Favitta learned the girl presented symptoms for mild hypothermia and a “minor lactic acidosis” — a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. She was stored in the ship’s medical heart for 9 hours. The father was recognized with hypothermia, lactic acidosis and a suspected spinal fracture later confirmed by a local hospital, per the report.

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In a July 31 emailed letter to the State Attorney’s Office obtained by PEOPLE, assistant state attorney Melissa Kelly declined the case for prosecution and particularly declined to charge the mom with one rely of youngster negligence.

“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,” she wrote. “Therefore, in light of the facts of this case along with the relevant case law, I am declining one count of child neglect without great bodily harm.”

A consultant for Disney has not responded to PEOPLE’s a number of requests for remark. At the time of the incident, Disney confirmed the rescue of two passengers and praised “crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes.”

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