An Egyptian diver who helped rescue a tourist ship after it sank in the Red Sea told the BBC that rescuers had to search the vessel with torches to find passengers and crew.
“We dived to 12 meters (40 feet) underwater. The survivors were trapped inside the boat cabin,” Khattab al-Faramawy said by phone.
Rescuers found four bodies and five survivors on Tuesday after the Seastory, carrying 44 passengers and crew, sank after being hit by large waves near Marsa Alam on Monday.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. The BBC understands that two of the missing people are British nationals.
family photoMr Al-Faramawy said rescuers had to enter the boat and open the cabin doors to rescue the passengers.
“We were using torches to find our way in the dark, and it was quite a complex mission,” he said.
He added, “We offer our condolences to the families of those who died and hope that all missing passengers are still alive.”
The Sea Story is mostly submerged and the boat is still less than a meter above the water, Mr Al Faramawi said.
Among those he rescued on Tuesday was his nephew Youssef, 23, a diving instructor.
Youssef’s father, Hussam al-Faramawy, cried the moment he found out his son was alive.
“I couldn’t tell his mother what happened to the boat. She would have died instantly. I told her only after I realized he had survived,” he told us.
Youssef is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
“He attempted to rescue the passengers but became trapped in one of the cabins.” his father said in an emotional phone call.
He found it difficult to explain how he kept waiting to hear news about his son. “I could do nothing but pray to God to help my son, and luckily his uncle finally saved him.”
family photoThe Egyptian navy is in charge of the rescue operation and the military has kept survivors away from the media.
Local authorities posted video of the rescue operation, showing survivors wrapped in blankets, including one on a stretcher, being taken to shore.
One unnamed survivor said he was “trembling from the cold” before being rescued.
The 44-metre Sea Story left port near Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving trip. The ship is believed to have been hit by rough winds overnight on Sunday, and Red Sea governor Rear Admiral Amr Hanafi said it sank in five to seven minutes.
Egypt’s Meteorological Agency warned of high waves in the Red Sea and advised against marine activities on Sunday and Monday.
Egyptian officials said the vessel had a valid safety certificate and was found to have no technical problems.
Diving tours and sea cruises are a big attraction for tourists visiting Egypt’s Red Sea resorts. Marsa Alam, where the boat departs, is a popular destination among European visitors due to its clear water, sunny weather and magnificent marine life.
Tourists on board were from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States, according to the Marsa Alam regional council.
According to the foreign ministries of these countries, the missing included two Polish tourists and one Finnish tourist.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are providing support to a number of British nationals and their families following the incident in Egypt.”
The Chinese Embassy in Egypt said the two rescued Chinese nationals were “healthy.”
red sea state