Disney cruise passengers heard terrifying sound as girl fell overboard

What was meant to be a relaxing voyage aboard the Disney Dream turned into a moment of sheer terror for passengers when a young girl fell overboard into the open sea.

The incident unfolded on Sunday morning around 11:15am as the cruise ship was sailing between Nassau and Grand Bahama Island, heading back toward Fort Lauderdale. Passengers were enjoying a typical day at sea when the chaos unfolded.

"There was some kind of commotion," said one guest, who witnessed the incident and filmed part of the rescue, posting it to TikTok under the username Chandler Sphynx.

"Then there was this awful scream from what I assume was the mother, and then this massive splash." She described the sound of the girl hitting the water as chilling. "It sounded like hitting pavement," she told People.

READ MORE: Disney Cruise ship fall: Moment girl and dad rescued after falling overboard

Within seconds, the ship's emergency alarm blared across the loudspeakers with the chilling call "MOB port side" - the maritime code for Man Overboard.

Passengers rushed to the railings as the magnitude of what had just occurred began to sink in.

Witnesses say the girl had fallen from the fourth deck, an area typically equipped with plexiglass barriers and used as a jogging track and viewing platform. Moments later, her father jumped from the same height in an attempt to rescue her. "The splash when he went in was so loud," Chandler said.

What followed was a harrowing 20-minute rescue effort. The ship, which weighs over 130,000 tons and can travel up to 25 miles per hour, immediately began to slow and maneuver as Disney's crew launched a bright yellow rescue boat.

Crew members aboard the vessel could be seen tossing life rings and flotation jackets into the sea as they made their way toward the father and daughter, who were struggling to stay afloat in the choppy Atlantic water.

For many passengers watching from balconies above, the wait felt endless. "I had to tell my daughter they were probably gone," Chandler admitted. "You just never expect them to survive something like that."

But the father somehow managed to keep his daughter's head above water, treading in open sea until help arrived. At around 11:47am, to the sound of applause from passengers above, the pair were pulled onto the rescue vessel and brought safely back on board.

Disney Cruise Line later confirmed that both guests were unharmed and praised their crew for their quick response. "The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," the company said in a statement. "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."

The ship's captain addressed the incident in an onboard announcement, commending the crew and reminding all guests of the importance of following safety procedures during their voyage.

Disney officials say they are reviewing surveillance footage and investigating how the child came to fall from Deck 4, which includes protective glass barriers meant to prevent such accidents.

The Disney Dream, which entered service in 2010 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2023, is one of the flagship vessels of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, known for its family-friendly atmosphere.