Greece boat accident: 'Swimmed in the sea for an hour, unfortunately could not save colleagues from drowning' Part 1

Greece boat accident: 'Swimmed in the sea for an hour,
unfortunately could not save colleagues from drowning' Chart

Greece boat accident: 'Swimmed in the sea for an hour, unfortunately could not save colleagues from drowning'

I was sitting behind this boat. It had three floors and I was sitting at the end of the second floor. On the last day it was about titwo to three o'clock in the day and our boat's engine was broken, it was not moving. Then at about 4:30 a ship came to help us but it would have been better if they had done the rescue. They provided us with water and biscuits and left.

This story was told to BBC Urdu by 20-year-old Haseeb-ur-Rehman, who survived a boat that sank in the sea near Greece. Haseebur Rehman belongs to Khoi Ratta Tehsil of Kotli District of Pakistan Administered Kashmir. He used to work in Pakistan, but according to him, he was not getting his wages, due to which he started this very dangerous journey.

At least 350 Pakistanis were on board the boat that sank in Greece, out of which only 12 children survived. According to the Pakistani government, the families of 281 missing citizens have contacted it.

Speaking to BBC Urdu about the incidents on the boat after his release and the treatment meted out to Pakistani migrants, Haseeb recounted his harrowing journey on a fishing boat. During the trip from Libya to Italy, 'our boat was hesitating, but a nearby ship gave way.'

He says that it was a big ship and the ship stopped at a distance of about one to twelve kilometers and from there they gave us water. Some got it, some couldn't get it.

According to Haseeb, "Our boat was sometimes going in one direction and sometimes in the other direction. We shouted 'help me help me' but they 'didn't hear anything.'

He says that these passengers were 'gesturing from a distance to take water and biscuits.' A lot of boys said more words but maybe they didn't hear and they gave us this food and left.

A lot of people took off their shirts and waved, but they left.

'Couldn't save his companions and they drowned'

Talking about the difficulties during the journey on the boat, Haseeb said that there was "shouting and shouting". Pakistani citizens were also saying that lives should be saved.

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Accordingto Haseeb, Pakistanis were not allowed to do whatever they wanted, or even take food from there.

In the darkness of the night, 'there was no space in the boat to move from one place to another.'

According to him, we heard from people that the leak is being poured. Our boat's engine was off at that time. The boat was sailing in darkness with no light on its side.

According to Haseeb, after a long time, he was told that a ship had come to rescue.

Haseeb says that I was behind so I did not see him. It is not known whether they put the rope or not but the boat kept moving for at least ten minutes.

They say that there was no help available to the boat before it sank. Another ship came at half past seven. They also threw rope etc towards us. They also left with biscuits and water.

Haseeb said that we were right next to this boat. Then a miracle of Allah happened and the engine of our boat started.

After 7:30 in the evening, some voices started echoing that the Italian ship is coming to receive you. Perhaps it was to give us hope that people would not make noise.

Hasib said that some citizens of Egypt were talking in Arabic that "we have not received anything to eat or drink for four days." Then we people shouted that if the boat cannot go to Italy, then put it on the shore of another country.

It got to the point that they demanded to take him to Libya or Greece to save everyone's lives.

When everyone's weight shifted to one side, the boat overturned and then ran aground.

He recalls that 'there were some two or three people who came up from below, among them was an elderly man who came up five minutes earlier, thus his life was saved.'

Haseeb said that when I fell into the sea, I heard a scream. Haseeb says that there were some dear ones who came with me, among them Arshad Sharif and Nadeem Tareen, they were also with me and were the shadow of my head. They were also in the same boat but I could not do anything for them. They drowned.

Haseeb says that Arshad Sharif was so good that we did not get anything to eat, but if he got anything to eat, even a nawala, he would give it to us. I am very depressed, but what can you do, God willing.

Haseeb said that I sat on the boat for ten to fifteen minutes and then it also went down in the water. I gave voice to all the people. Arshad, Nadeem, Nasir gave voice to all but I could not do anything for them.

They admit that it is a miracle of Allah that I have survived.

Haseeb says that I was swimming in the sea for about an hour wearing jeans. Then he approached the ship that had come to help. I shouted to them there, 'My friend, help me', so they threw a tube-like rope and a safety net towards me, so I walked on it and reached the ship.

According to Hasib

That ship was probably a Greek navy or army ship, I am grateful to them for saving us and giving us a new life.

They gave me blankets and water. They gave us the food they had brought for themselves.

I boarded this ship at two or three o'clock in the night. Then their rescue helicopter came, then another ship came to rescue people (and then) they rushed 15 to 16 people to the hospital.

Continue..

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Greece boat accident: 'Swimmed in the sea for an hour, unfortunately could not save colleagues from drowning' Part 2