A parent and child were recovered from the water by cruise ship personnel after entering the sea alongside a berthed vessel. The incident occurred while Carnival Sunrise was alongside at Celebration Key, where nearby passengers recorded the latter stages of the rescue on video.
The footage, taken from a neighbouring cruise ship, shows the rescue already in progress. Although the circumstances leading to the incident have not been formally confirmed, captions accompanying the video suggest that the child entered the water first and that the accompanying adult, identified as the child’s mother, followed in an attempt to assist. No official account has been released to verify these details.
Crew members can be seen monitoring the situation from the ship’s side and deploying a lifebuoy to support those in the water. Additional personnel arrived shortly afterward with a ladder, which was lowered over the edge of the pier to facilitate recovery. The child was brought out of the water first, transferred to individuals on the pier believed to be family members, and wrapped to prevent exposure. The adult was then able to exit the water under her own power and was met by others from her party.
Passengers observing the operation responded audibly once the recovery was complete, acknowledging the efforts of both the crew and those involved. While there has been no official statement regarding the medical condition of either individual, neither appeared to show signs of serious injury in the video. It is understood that shipboard medical staff would have conducted further assessments following the incident.
Based on available information, it appears likely that the child fell from the pier edge before the adult entered the water to remain with them until assistance arrived. The response by ship and pier personnel brought the situation to a prompt conclusion while the vessel remained alongside.
For more Carnival Sunrise incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.