Girl, 5, Fell Off Disney Cruise: Mother's Chilling Instruction Revealed by Authorities

A Family Photo Turns Tragic on the Disney Dream Cruise

More details have come out about the heartbreaking incident where a five-year-old fell overboard from a Disney cruise ship.

What should have been a perfect family vacation full of sunshine, sea breezes, and happiness on the Disney Dream cruise ship turned into a nightmare when the young girl unexpectedly went overboard into the ocean.

The scary event happened on June 29 this year, as the ship was heading back to Florida from the Bahamas.

Passengers said panic spread across the decks after a 'MOB port side' - the emergency code for 'man overboard' - announcement was made.

Soon after, crew members quickly launched a rescue boat into the water.

The father was praised as a 'hero' after he dove in to rescue his daughter

People watching called the young girl’s dad a 'hero' after he jumped in to save her, managing to stay afloat for almost 20 minutes until they were both safely rescued.

Videos taken by bystanders showed a rescue team rushing to reach them, with passengers cheering as they were brought back on board.

However, months later, authorities revealed the real reason the girl fell, which was different from what everyone first thought.

According to a newly released police report, reported by the Daily Mail, the child’s mom had supposedly asked her daughter to pose for a photo in front of a porthole just before she lost her balance and fell into the sea.

The report says the family was walking along deck four when the mom pointed to the porthole and 'suggested her daughter take a picture there'.

Investigators mentioned that the mom 'thought the porthole had a window or plexiglass, believing [her daughter] would be supported by the glass, but instead, she continued to fall'.

Investigators reported that the fall occurred after a photo attempt went awry

The report mentioned that the authorities saw the mom snapping a bunch of photos really quickly. When you look at them one after another, they basically create a short video of the kid climbing up on the railing and then falling backwards into the water.

Detective Christopher Favitta from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office checked out the scene himself and wrote: “When I took a look at the window, it was obvious, like anyone careful would notice, that it was open to the air and didn’t have a cover.

“This situation, which [the mother] allowed, put the child in serious danger. As a result, the child fell off the ship into the water, leading to an accident that could have been avoided.”

Even though Detective Favitta thought charges should be filed, the state attorney decided not to, saying that while the mom’s actions were 'negligent and irresponsible', they didn’t meet the legal standards for 'criminal culpable negligence', according to the Daily Mail.