Five passengers were miraculously saved yesterday after a huge search operation led by Egypt’s Red Sea governor and the country’s navy found them after being trapped for over 24 hours
Egypt: Five more rescued after tourist yacht sinks in Red Sea
This is the moment overwhelmed survivors of the capsized Sea Story were helped back onto dry land – after being trapped inside the wreckage for more than 24 hours.
Five passengers were miraculously saved on Tuesday after a huge search operation led by Egypt’s Red Sea governor and the country’s navy. The 144ft diving yacht carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew members had been wiped out by a huge wave shortly before 5.30am on Monday.
The vessel had left Port Ghalib and was bound for a five day excursion finishing in Hurghada on Egypt’s west coast. After 28 people were rescued from the Red Sea on Monday another five were found on Tuesday night when the floating wreck was found 30km from where it had first capsized.
Two Belgians, one Swiss, one Finnish and one Egyptian national were rescued after surviving in one of the yacht cabins which had not filled with water. As they emerged from the rescue boat a local newspaper filmed the moment they thanked crews who had finally brought them back ashore.
Draped in hooded blankets, one by one they can be seen being moved onto gurneys and moved into waiting ambulances as they are checked over by medical teams One woman was so overcome with emotion that she is seen burying her head in the blanket and silently sobbing, while a man is laid with his eyes closed visibly shivering.
A second man, believed to be a Belgian national, was so grateful to be back he wore a stunned smile across his face. He told news crews holding the camera: “It is very nice to be back, I really appreciate it. The rescue on the boat, with a warm shower, a dinner after and all the care they took. Because we were really shaking, we were cold and shaking and they warmed us up.”