ROQUE DIAS | NT

MARGAO: The 43 crew members onboard the Costa Concordia, which ran aground and capsized close to the coast of Italy, at Giglio, on January 13, reached Goan shores on Friday, a week after the disaster. Some of them talked of their experience on the ship during the accident

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Severino Colaco recalling the time of the accident said, "When the ship began to tilt, I was at the galley. A heavy heater came rolling towards me, however I dodged it. Then a second heater came towards me and hit me on my knee. I did not know the ship was in danger of sinking as the captain did not alert us."

Mr Colaco from Cansaulim, was employed as a second cook aboard the Costa Concordia. He said he was stationed at the kitchen which is on the lower deck (under water part of the ship) He said, "Friends came to help, and on realising the magnitude of the accident we ran helter-skelter to safety. I was taken to the doctor and saw other crew members helping passengers into the lifeboats."
These sailors thanked the Italian company for the assistance provided to them during the rescue. "We are very thankful to the company. Despite huge losses, the Costa Company took care of all its crew and their safety," he said
Avery D’Souza, a waiter, who worked with the company for many years, said that the Italian Red Cross provided them the clothing and the required assistance. "Two priests, one Italian (from Giglio) and the other one from Kerala, associated with the Fr Agnelo Institution, prayed and comforted us," said Avery.
Mr Alu Fernandes said, "Many passengers and crew members swam towards the shore with life jackets, and were later rescued by the boats. A lifeboat can accommodate 150 people and we first gave the passengers the chance to get into these and later we followed."

They informed that upon rescue, they were kept at the Giglio Church premises and later moved to Hotel Marriot at Rome. He lost most of his valuables, including his passport and wedding ring. He was however more concerned of his Bible. "I felt like crying when I lost my Bible," he said.
These Goans who arrived back home on Friday expressed displeasure over the attitude of the Goa government. They said. "Our Chennai colleagues were welcomed at the
airport by the Chennai government with flowers, but in Goa the government did not even know about the incident."