Child Falls Between Cruise Ship and Pier at Carnival’s Celebration Key, Mother Jumps in After

A mother and child are safe thanks to the fast-acting crew from Carnival Cruise Line.  The child fell between the cruise ship Carnival Sunrise and the pier while the ship was docked at the cruise line’s private destination at Celebration Key.

An online video (see below) shows the moment immediately after the child fell in the water and the mother jumped off the pier to attempt a rescue.

The incident happened just a few days before Christmas on December 21, 2025.  A passenger on the nearby ship Carnival Conquest saw what was happening and started filming.

The TikTok user posted the video with the caption, “I’m sitting in my room on the Carnival Conquest and I hear screaming outside. Apparently people fell between the dock and the Carnival Sunrise. They were pulled to safety! A mama jumped in after her baby, brave woman! Very scary situation but they were rescued quickly!”

@chelspiers I’m sitting in my room on the Carnival Conquest and I hear screaming outside. Apparently people fell between the dock and the Carnival Sunrise. They were pulled to safety! A mama jumped in after her baby, brave woman! Very scary situation but they were rescued quickly! #carnival #celebrationkey #bahamas ♬ original sound – chelspiers

In the video, crew members can be seen ushering onlookers away from the edge of the pier as other crew attempt to use floatation devices and a ladder to try to rescue the mother and her child.

Once the child and mother were back on the pier, the other passengers cheered and clapped for both the rescued couple and the hard-working crew that made the rescue possible.

A comment in the now viral video on TikTok, presumably from the mother stated, “Thank you everyone for your prayers and words of encouragement. My kids and I have a long road ahead of us to heal from this tramatic situation.”

Some users in the comments wondered why there are no fences or railings on a cruise ship pier. These piers are kept open so the ship can be tied up with heavy ropes and so supplies can be loaded on and off.

There are bright yellow lines painted on the ground and passengers will be scolded if a crew member sees them crossing these lines.

There are also big rubber pads between the ship and the dock that keep the ship from hitting the concrete, which helps protect anyone who might fall into that space.

Thankfully, in this case the mother and child are fine and this can be a helpful reminder for those who think it’s ok to cross the yellow lines for a better picture or to look at fish in the water.

Just last August a Royal Caribbean passenger fell off the pier while focusing on his smart phone and filming the ship, so it’s important to pay attention when walking along a cruise ship pier.

Another comment to the video resonated with users and stated, “I wish people could focus on the fact that my friend and her daughter are alive. Let’s pause the judgment. A terrifying accident happened, and a mother did exactly what a mother does she saved her child. They are both alive. That’s the part that matters. Every parent has had a moment that could’ve ended differently. Lead with compassion.”