The five-year-old girl fell about 50 feet from a Disney cruise ship into the sea below, with her father jumping in after just a few seconds – criminal charges were later filed against the girl’s family
A five-year-old girl who fell 50 feet from a Disney cruise ship was asked to pose for a photo in front of an open porthole, according to authorities.
The young girl lost her balance while standing in front of the porthole while she and her mother and father were traveling on the Disney Dream cruise ship. She fell into the open sea, with her father jumping after her just 45 seconds later.
Soon after, false rumors spread that the father had put her on the railing for a photo. Authorities in Florida now claim the girl fell in after her mother asked her to pose next to the railing.
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A distress call went out and a yellow rescue boat was deployed three minutes after the girl fell into the sea.
The girl did not sustain any serious injuries. Her father was later treated for an unspecified problem.
Criminal charges had been recommended against the mother, but the June 29 incident did not amount to “criminal culpable negligence.” As a result, the Florida Attorney General’s Office is declining to prosecute.
State’s Attorney Melissa Kelly said in a Sept. 16 statement: “While the defendant’s conduct is demonstrably negligent and irresponsible, it does not rise to the egregious level of conduct necessary to establish criminal culpable negligence.”
The Broward County Sheriff interviewed the parents and they gave matching stories that were the same as those on the security camera footage. The case has now been closed
The mother allegedly told police that she took several other photos of her daughter near the railing during the trip. The police report stated: “She gave me a photo of [the girl] lying in a porthole with a window on it.”
The mother allegedly said “she thought the windows should be covered,” adding, “Disney is responsible for what happened,” according to the police report.
The Mirror has contacted Disney Cruises for comment.
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