Vietnam Boat Horror: Survivor Recounts 'Flipped in 3 Minutes' Near Phu Quoc
Vietnam Boat Horror: Survivor Recounts 'Flipped in 3 Minutes' Near Phu Quoc
A survivor of the tragic Vietnam boat capsize shares his harrowing experience upon returning to Chennai, detailing how a routine island trip turned deadly in minutes, claiming 15 Indian lives.
In a chilling first-hand account, Nirmal Kumar, one of the survivors of the recent speedboat tragedy in Vietnam, recounted the horrific moments when a routine island-to-island transit turned into a deadly disaster. Arriving in Chennai on the night of July 13, Kumar shared details of the incident that led to the death of 15 Indian tourists.
The tragedy occurred on July 11 near Hon May Rut Ngoai off Phu Quoc Island, when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members capsized. Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala, including two women. While 16 others were rescued and have returned to India after receiving medical treatment, one survivor remains in critical condition in a Phu Quoc hospital.
Mr. Kumar, who bravely stayed back initially to assist in recovery operations, revealed that the closed speedboat capsized just 300 metres into their journey. He described a "massive, extremely rough wave" that hit the boat, causing it to tilt. Passengers on one side fell to the other, shifting the entire weight and flipping the boat completely upside down "within three minutes." He explained that the driver and guide were the first to jump into the water, prompting him and about 20 other passengers to follow, thus escaping. However, those seated in the back, trapped within the closed vessel, were not as fortunate.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of safety protocols in tourism, especially during adventure activities. The bodies of the 15 Indians killed in the tragedy have since been brought back to Mumbai, adding to the somber recovery efforts.
