Copyright Live 5 News WCSC
(Gray News) – No charges will be filed in the case of a 5-year-old girl falling off a Disney cruise ship in June that made national headlines. The girl’s father jumped in the water to rescue her, which was captured in many viral videos. The situation happened June 29 aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship that was sailing between Florida and the Bahamas. According to a report from WTVJ, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said the child’s family was on the fourth deck of the ship when they stopped to take a photo. The girl’s mother reportedly pointed to the port hole railing, and her daughter climbed on the railing and sat down. The 5-year-old girl lost her balance and fell backward off the railing into the ocean, officials found. She fell about 50 feet, officials said. An incident report obtained by WTVJ said the mother initially didn’t realize her daughter had fallen into the ocean because she assumed a glass barrier was present. However, once she realized her daughter was in the water, she screamed for help. The girl’s father then jumped overboard to rescue his daughter. The dad managed to reach his daughter in the ocean and treaded water with her for about 20 minutes until they were both rescued by ship personnel. According to WUSA, both were taken to the ship’s medical center and later transported to Broward Health Medical Center in Florida. The 5-year-old was treated for mild hypothermia and minor lactic acidosis (excessive build up of lactic acid in the blood). Her father was hospitalized with hypothermia, lactic acidosis and two spinal fractures. Assistant State Attorney Melissa Kelly ultimately decided not to press charges against the mother. In a statement, Kelly said the mother honestly believed there was a protective barrier between the railing and the water, and the situation was an accident. Kelly said she recognized the mother’s actions were negligent but did not rise to the standard to press charges.
