Deadly tour boat survivor in Vietnam describes his escape

A man who survived the capsizing of a tour boat in Ha Long Bay said he escaped the overturned vessel by swimming out through a window underwater.

Rescue officials are in a boat next to an overturned tourist vessel.

A tourist boat in Vietnam capsized during strong winds, killing at least 35 people. Source: EPA / Vietnam News Agency

A man who survived the capsizing of a tour boat in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, has described his escape from the overturned vessel, saying he "saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out".

At least 35 people were killed in the accident and a search is continuing for four who are still missing, according to Vietnamese state media.

Authorities said earlier reports of 38 dead and five missing were incorrect.

The Wonder Sea embarked on Saturday for a three-hour excursion in Ha Long Bay, a popular tourist destination, carrying 46 passengers and three crew.

But a storm quickly covered the sky, bringing high winds and pouring rain, survivor Dang Anh Tuan told The Associated Press.
A man is assisting an unconscious person lying next to a woman inside a vessel as a rescue official looks at them.
Rescue workers saved 11 people, some of whom had clung to the capsized boat's hull for hours. Source: AP / QDND
Tuan said the passengers asked for the boat to turn back to shore, but the crew reassured them they were almost at their destination and kept the boat moving forward.

"It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned," the 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman said.

"Water gushed in and I lost all orientation.

"I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down.

"I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help."

Tuan and three others survived by clinging to the capsized boat and its propellers, waiting another two hours until the rain stopped and rescuers arrived.
Vessels sail through a calm bay surrounded by limestone formations.
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Source: PA / Nguyen Van Hai-Barbier Jean Pierre
The Wonder Sea boat was later seen being towed to a shipyard for investigation, with most of its windows shattered, and damage to its roof and handrails.

Police and other officials were seen working on the boat.

Rescue workers recovered 11 survivors, but one later died in hospital due to his injuries, VNExpress newspaper said.

The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said.

A 14-year-old boy was rescued after four hours of being trapped in the overturned hull.

The newspaper said most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children.

Tuan was on a holiday with 11 university friends, only three of whom survived.

Tuan has only minor cuts, but one of his friends suffered multiple head injuries and the other's tendons were cut by broken glass as he escaped the boat through a window.

The other nine members of the group were killed, including one who was travelling with his wife and three-year-old son.

A tropical storm is also moving toward the area.

A national weather forecast said Storm Wipha was expected to hit Vietnam's northern region next week, including Ha Long Bay's coast.


For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.

Share
3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP, Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world