(Pictures: Facebook)
The mother whose daughter nearly died when she fell 50 feet from a Disney cruise has been identified.
Lawyers Michelle Sapp and her husband Keegan, each 37, were celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary with their daughter Elliana in June.
But tragedy struck their holiday when Michelle told her daughter to climb onto a railing below an open porthole to pose for a photograph – the Each day Mail has revealed.
Elliana lost her balance and fell 50 feet into the ocean.
After the mum let loose a bloodcurdling scream, Keegan dove into the ocean to rescue their little daughter. Each were dramatically rescued after spending 20 minutes adrift.
Although Broward County Sheriff’s Office detectives beneficial that Michelle be charged with child neglect, prosecutors declined.
Michelle’s actions were put down as the results of a moment of poor judgment somewhat than significant child neglect.
She blamed Disney for her daughter’s near-death, claiming she thought the portholes were covered by plexiglass.
But Detective Christopher Favitta said it was clear the porthole was open.
In his report, he wrote: ‘This act facilitated by [Michelle] placed the kid in a life-threatening situation. Consequently, the kid fell from the ship and into the water, in an avoidable accident.’
Meanwhile, assistant state prosecutor Melissa Kelly declined to file charges as she accepted Michelle’s defense.
Kelly wrote in a July 31 memorandum: ‘This was an isolated incident, and all available evidence shows that it was merely accidental.
‘The defendant was supervising the victim, and while her conduct of allowing her child to take a seat on the railing was negligent, it doesn’t rise to an ordinary of culpable negligence or utter disregard for the security of her child.
‘Parents and caregivers of kids aren’t held to an ordinary of perfection under the law.
‘While the defendant was irresponsible, her act of facilitating the victim’s position on the railing was an isolated incident that resulted from a momentary lapse in proper judgment and unawareness of surrounding circumstances.’
Last week, the family moved out of their $765,000 home in East Northport on Long Island, Latest York.
Keegan has worked as an associate counsel for Long Island University since 2022 and teaches at Hofstra University.
The couple got engaged on a visit to Paris in August 2017 and married on June 22, 2019.
Keegan suffered two spinal fractures and hypothermia from his plunge and struggle to maintain his daughter above the water.
Elliana had mild hypothermia but wasn’t hurt.
Each appear to be fully recovered in a family picture for Michelle’s birthday earlier this month.
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