Survivor of ship that sank off Kyrenia recounts: 'The doors were locked, there were people waiting for help under the glass'

Kürşat Bahadır, one of the passengers on the ship that sank off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recounted what happened during the disaster. Bahadır, who lives in the Reyhanlı district of Hatay, said that the ship, which had departed from Kyrenia Port for Mersin, began taking on water shortly after setting sail.

According to Bahadır's account, the water level in the passenger seating area rose as the ship hit the waves. Stating that the passengers wanted to turn back, Bahadır reported that the engine room supervisor said he would speak with the captain, and that panic ensued when the ship began to list to one side.

STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE LOCKED

Claiming that no life jackets were distributed on the ship and that their locations were not indicated, Bahadır stated that passengers headed toward the side that was not sinking, which caused a stampede inside. "Because the doors were locked, no one could get out; people tried to break the doors down," Bahadır said.

Explaining that after the ship listed, those inside slid and struggled to pull themselves up, Bahadır said that after two women behind him called for help, he was able to break a door and get out onto the deck with them.

Bahadır stated that after reaching the deck, there were still passengers inside waiting for help, and described how they tried to reach the people behind the glass. Saying that a mother was hugging her two children and calling out, "Please save my children," Bahadır expressed that they tried to break the glass but were unsuccessful. Bahadır later stated that he heard the mother and her children had been rescued and that he was relieved by this.

Recounting one of the most difficult moments of the disaster while trying to save an elderly passenger who was reported missing, Bahadır said he tied this person to his hand with a chain and tried to keep him above water for about 30 minutes. Bahadır explained that the passenger was swept toward the sinking side of the ship when a wave hit hard.

Bahadır stated that there were passengers who lost their lives under the glass on the ship, those trying to swim to avoid drowning, and passengers clinging to railings, describing the scene as a desperate struggle for survival.

News Source: 12punto