Six tourists have sadly died after a submarine sank off the coast of Egypt while on a tour of underwater coral reefs. 29 of the 39 rescued tourists were taken to hospital
Miracle survivors of the doomed Sindbad submarine have revealed the horrifying moment they realised something was wrong. At least six tourists have died and 39 have been rescued after the tourist submarine sank off the coast of Egypt. The tragic incident unfolded in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, when the vessel suddenly ran into difficulty while sailing off from one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area.
While authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the accident, disturbing details are coming to light. Elena Boldareva, who survived the terrifying sinking, has bravely spoken about the incident and has described the moment that tragedy struck.
READ MORE: Egypt Sindbad submarine tragedy sees three kids orphaned as parents killed in Red Sea sinking
In a harrowing account, she claimed that the submarine began to dive with its hatches open, leaving those on board scrambling to get out. “Some managed to swim out, some didn’t,” she said. Elena and her husband were able to swim out, though her daughter and mother were taken to hospital in a serious condition.
She said that heartbreakingly, other passengers attempted to try to save themselves as best as they could, while people on nearby boats rushed as they desperately attempted to pull those on board out of the water. Another unnamed survivor made similar claims. “When my family and I were standing on a pontoon and were about to board the submarine, the submarine suddenly started to sink, even though the hatches were open,” they told Russian outlet Mash. The passenger claimed: “The man who was responsible for loading shouted ‘stop, stop, stop’ and started pushing us back towards the pontoon.”
Following the incident, people at the scene recalled hearing ambulance sirens which “lasted a long time” after the submersible horrifyingly capsized. “We heard the ambulance sirens which lasted a long time and there are still at least three ambulances at the harbour,” a tourist told the BBC earlier today.
The vessel had 45 tourists on board as well as five Egyptian crew members, Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafy said in a statement. Hanafy also stated the submarine had a valid license and the crew leader had the correct “scientific certificates”. He added that all six of those who’d sadly died were Russians and that 29 of the 39 tourists that had been rescued were injured and had been taken to hospital. Nobody from the vessel is still missing.
Anaesthetist Ravil Valiullin, 40, and his wife Kristina, 39, a children’s doctor, were on the vessel. It was initially reported that she had died, but it has since emerged she was reunited with her children. It is not immediately clear what happened to him.
Prior to the harrowing incident, the submarine was on a tour of underwater coral reefs. Among those on board were individuals from Norway, India, Sweden and Russia. At present, it’s unclear what exactly led to the sinking and authorities are currently investigating. According to Russian media reports, the vessel is believed to have hit a coral reef and experienced “depressurisation”.
Tourists who have taken trips aboard the Sindbad previously have shared mixed reviews about the experience online. “I was shocked when I read the news that it has sunk – my heart goes out to the victims. When I was onboard I was surprised with how safety focused the crew were. The boat felt sturdy and the staff and the captain were very friendly and professional,” said Tom McDowell who travelled on the sub last year.
However, other tourists previously took to online review websites to speak less fondly of the experience. “They also ‘big up’ the qualifications of the captain. But constantly bumping the sub on the sea floor is not good for the sea life, sea floor, my sanity of ultimately I’d say the sub!,” one reviewer from Bridgend posted on TripAdvisor said in October 2024.
Meanwhile, tourists who went on the same sub several days ago reported that it was in a ‘terrible condition’. One passenger told Shot media: “The glass was broken and scuffed, and visibility was 50/50. It was difficult to see the fish and the diving show.” There were also complaints about ‘old and damaged life jackets’.
The vessel has 44 passenger seats, two pilot seats, and a round viewing window for each passenger, according to its website. Promotional material describes the tour as being “an unforgettable journey” that allows guests to “experience the beauty of the Red Sea’s underwater world without getting wet”.
