Family photoAn Egyptian diver involved in the rescue operation of those searching for the wreckage of a sunken tourist boat in the Red Sea has described how he found his nephew among the stranded passengers but still alive on the boat.
Rescuers on Tuesday found five survivors on the ship and four bodies. On the third day of the search, seven people remained missing.
“We were 12m (40ft) underwater – the survivors were trapped inside the boat cabin,” Khattab al-Faramawy told the BBC.
They had survived more than 24 hours on the boat since it was sunk by a large wave near Marsa Alam off Egypt’s east coast on Monday.
Mr. al-Faramawy described the complexity of searching for passengers and crew on the sunken four-deck boat.
“We used flashlights to try to find our way into the darkness. It’s quite a complicated task,” he said.
Finally, they were able to open the cabin door to get the survivors out.
His grandson was also among them. Youssef, 23 years old, works as a diving instructor on the ship.
“He was trying to save the passengers on the plane but was locked in one of the cabins,” Hussam al-Faramawy, his father, told the BBC in an emotional phone call.
I couldn’t do anything but pray to God to help my son and luckily his uncle was able to save him in the end.”
Hussam al-Faramawy said he shed tears when he learned his son had survived.
“I couldn’t tell his mother what happened to the boat, she would have died immediately. I only told her after realizing that he had survived,” he said.
Youssef is currently being treated at a local hospital, as are other survivors. Up to now, a total of 33 out of 44 people on board the Sea Story have been rescued.
Officials have not yet revealed the identities of the victims and missing persons. The BBC understands that two of the missing people are British citizens.
Family photoThe Egyptian navy was in charge of the rescue operation and the army kept the survivors hidden from the media.
Local authorities posted videos of the rescue operation, with footage showing survivors wrapped in blankets – including one on a stretcher – being brought to shore.
An unnamed survivor was seen saying he was “shivering with cold” before being rescued.
The 44m Sea Story left port near Marsa Alam on Sunday for a five-day diving trip. It is believed to have been hit by strong winds on Sunday night, and Red Sea Governor Major General Amr Hanafi said it sank within five to seven minutes.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority has warned of high waves in the Red Sea and advised against maritime activities on Sunday and Monday.
Egyptian officials said the ship had a valid safety certificate and was not believed to have any technical problems.
Diving tours and cruises are a huge draw for tourists visiting Egypt’s Red Sea resorts. Marsa Alam, where the boat departs, is a popular destination for European tourists thanks to its clear waters, sunny weather and beautiful marine life.
According to the local council in Marsa Alam, tourists on board were from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the US.
Among the missing are two Polish tourists, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting a number of British nationals and their families following the incident in Egypt”.
The Chinese Embassy in Egypt said two of its citizens were “in good health” after being rescued.
