Matthew Griffiths, who was on duty the night of the tragedy, told investigators that crew members did everything they could to save those on board the Bayesian, according to comments reported by Italian news agency Ansa.
Rescuers search for missing people at the site of a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 21. Photo: Reuters
Griffiths, Captain James Cutfield and the ship's engineer Tim Parker Eaton are being investigated by Italian authorities for manslaughter and shipwreck. Being under investigation does not mean guilt and does not mean formal charges will be laid.
"I woke the captain up when the wind was at 20 knots (37 km/h). He ordered everyone else to be woken up," Griffiths said.
"The ship listed and we were thrown into the water. Then we tried to surface to save those we could," Griffiths said, recounting the incident on August 19, when the Bayesian was anchored off the Sicilian port of Porticello.
"We were walking on the side (of the boat). We saved those who could be saved. Cutfield also saved the little girl and her mother," he said, referring to passenger Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter. A total of 15 people survived the sinking.
Cutfield exercised his right to remain silent when questioned by prosecutors last week. The captain's lawyers said he was still "exhausted" by the sinking, and they also needed more time to build their defense case.
Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said last week that the ship was likely hit by a "strong gust of wind".
The sinking, however, has left maritime experts baffled because the Bayesian vessel, built by Italian luxury yacht maker Perini, was supposed to be able to withstand the storm, and in any case, could not have sunk so quickly.
Prosecutors in the town of Termini Imerese, near Palermo, said their investigation would take time because the wreckage had not yet been raised from the sea.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thuy-thu-ke-lai-khoanh-khac-sieu-du-thuyen-chim-oy-post310230.html
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