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Egypt Submarine Tragedy: Survivor Recounts Harrowing Descent with Open Hatches
In a shocking account of the Egypt submarine tragedy, a survivor has alleged that the tourist vessel commenced its dive with hatches still ajar. This perilous oversight reportedly forced passengers to desperately escape as the submersible rapidly flooded off the coast of Hurghada.
Eyewitness Testimony: Chaos as Submersible Took on Water
Elena Boldareva, along with her husband, were among those who managed to swim free from the Sindbad tourist submersible as it began to founder at its docking pontoon near Hurghada this morning. Despite the successful rescue of 39 individuals, including Boldareva’s daughter and mother who were hospitalized, the incident resulted in six fatalities. Tragically, at least one child remains in critical condition.
“Some people managed to swim out, some didn’t,” Boldareva recounted, painting a picture of panic and desperation. She described a chaotic scene where individuals struggled to save themselves, while tourists on nearby boats at the Sindbad Club Hotel marina rushed to offer assistance and pull people from the water.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge from Survivors
Another unnamed survivor offered a similar recollection to Russian news outlet Mash, corroborating Boldareva’s account of the chaotic moments leading up to the sinking. “When my family and I were on the pontoon, ready to board the submarine, it suddenly started to sink,” she stated, emphasizing that “the hatches were open” at the time. She further claimed that the loading manager frantically yelled “stop, stop, stop” and attempted to push passengers back towards the safety of the pontoon as the vessel began its descent before everyone was safely onboard.
The Fateful Voyage and Mounting Casualties
The Sindbad submarine, already carrying numerous tourists, ultimately sank. Initial reports indicate that at least six Russian nationals, including two children, perished in the disaster, and at least nine others sustained injuries. Local sources confirm that 39 individuals have been rescued to date.
Passenger Dr. Kristina Valliulina was reportedly reunited with her children, ages 10 and 15, at a local hospital. This reunion followed initial fears that she might have been among the deceased. Her husband, Ravil Valiullin, was also believed to be aboard the Sindbad during the sinking. His condition was not immediately ascertained.
Past Concerns Raised About Submersible Operation
The startling claim regarding the open hatches has surfaced amidst growing concerns and prior warnings from previous passengers. Holidaymakers have shared unsettling experiences that left them deeply shaken, suggesting potential operational issues with the tourist submarine.
TripAdvisor Reviews Highlight Unease
- A Tripadvisor user with the handle “stubbyd” from Bridgend wrote of a past experience, noting concerns beyond the captain’s qualifications. They described the submarine “constantly bumping…on the sea floor,” expressing worry for “the sea life, sea floor,” and the structural integrity of “the sub!”
- Holidaymaker Alexander S explicitly advised against the experience, stating on Tripadvisor, “The submarine hit the rocks/corals several times and swirled the sand etc up.”
- User Reyyu labeled the operation “a big scam,” citing “unsafe” boarding procedures and a poor viewing experience, stating, “We hardly saw anything.”
- Eugenia M admitted “full blame for trusting a scam,” describing the tour as feeling exactly like such, and expressing disbelief that operators would knowingly “risk your safety” for profit.
Recent Passenger Recounts Prior Voyage
Adding to the mounting unease, a British holidaymaker, Kelly Collins, 32, revealed that she had been aboard the same ill-fated Sindbad submarine just days before the tragic incident in Egypt. The HGV driver from Wigan expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the fatalities, stating that the experience has profoundly dissuaded her from future submarine excursions.
Collins and her partner, Sharon, 54, had booked a dive on the tourist submarine on Monday, prompted by a social media advertisement. She described a 40-minute underwater journey reaching depths of approximately 25 meters, before returning to shore by boat. Ms. Collins detailed the excursion as beginning with a 30-minute boat transfer to a docking platform, followed by the submarine trip, and concluding with another 30-minute boat ride back to shore. She noted that these tours are widely advertised to tourists visiting the Hurghada region, a popular vacation spot for British travelers.
Past Passenger Describes “Professional” but “Nervous” Experience
Tom McDowell, 63, from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, also recounted his submarine experience from a family holiday last year. While his wife Violet, 69, opted out due to claustrophobia concerns, Tom joined approximately 40 other passengers aboard the 30-meter submersible. The food manufacturer from Carrickfergus admitted feeling “nervous” initially but said he was “at ease” due to the seemingly “very professional” setup.
McDowell expressed shock and grief upon hearing news of the sinking, conveying, “My heart goes out to the victims.” He affirmed that this incident has deterred him from ever entering a submarine again, stating, “You don’t even think about something going wrong when it is your turn, but accidents happen.”
Official Statements and Conflicting Reports on Nationalities
According to the regional governor, the Sindbad tourist submarine was carrying around 45 international passengers at the time of the disaster. Initial reports had cited 44 passengers. Rescue services have successfully saved 39 individuals, as confirmed in a statement from the Red Sea governorate. Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafy stated on Facebook that all passengers are accounted for.
He specified that there were 45 foreign passengers and five Egyptians on board. In contrast, Moscow’s embassy in Cairo previously indicated that all passengers were Russian, reporting four Russian fatalities. However, Governor Hanafy clarified that the passengers originated from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden, with all six confirmed deaths being Russian nationals. Earlier reports had indicated five fatalities.
Emergency Response and Hospitalizations
A fleet of 21 ambulances was dispatched to the incident site, transporting injured individuals to local hospitals including Al-Kawthar, due to the severity of their conditions.
A statement from the Russian embassy detailed the incident timeline: “On March 27, around 10:00, at a distance of 1 km from the shore, an accident of the submersible ‘Sindbad’… occurred.” The embassy further elaborated that the submersible was conducting “a regular underwater excursion with inspection of the coral reef.” They confirmed approximately 45 tourists on board, all Russian citizens and clients of ‘Biblio Globus’ tour company. Initial reports indicated most passengers were rescued and taken to hotels and hospitals in Hurghada, with their health “not a cause for concern,” while tragically “four people have been killed” and “the fate of several tourists is being determined.”
Russian media later reported updated figures: 38 rescued, at least one child orphaned, and the parents of a hospitalized girl among the deceased. These later reports remain unconfirmed.
Egyptian officials, speaking anonymously to AP, stated that the submarine had departed from a beach in the tourist promenade area.
Tourist Reactions and Operational History
The passenger manifest included tourists seeking to experience Egypt’s coral reefs and marine life. The Sindbad submarine, capable of diving to 72 feet, tragically sank during this excursion.
Following the disaster, numerous tourists currently vacationing in Hurghada, who had either previously traveled on the submarine or had planned to, have expressed their reactions on the Sinbad Club Guests Facebook page. Comments ranged from shock and sadness to outright cancellation of planned trips, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy on the tourist community.
The submarine has been offering tourist excursions in Hurghada for several years. According to the operator, Sharm Hurghada Excursions, the underwater tour is advertised as a three-hour experience, priced at £68 per adult and £35 per child. The company promotes the excursion as an opportunity to “admire Hurghada’s underwater life and extensive coral reef,” offering a “diving experience while staying dry” and claiming views of “life underwater at a depth of 72ft.” The operator also boasts ownership of “two of the only ’14 real recreational submarines’ in the world.” The Sindbad Submarines website states a capacity of “44 passenger seats – two pilots’ seats and a sizable round viewing window for each passenger.”
Ongoing Investigations and Previous Incidents in the Region
The cause and circumstances surrounding the sinking are currently under investigation. Hurghada and its surrounding coastal areas are popular tourist destinations, offering numerous nautical activities. This incident, however, is not isolated. Previous incidents involving tourist boats in the same waters have raised concerns about safety and operational standards.
Notably, passengers aboard an Egyptian tourist boat involved in a fire in June 2023, which resulted in three British nationals missing, reported “reoccurring issues” with the vessel. Survivors from the Hurricane, which caught fire a week after their trip, expressed a lack of surprise due to known problems below deck. Another tourist boat, Sea Story, sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast in November of the previous year, near Shaab Satayah. Survivors of that incident attributed the sinking to a “high sea wave” that caused the vessel to capsize rapidly during rough weather conditions. UK investigators have reportedly identified 16 incidents involving “liveaboard” vessels in the region in the past five years, some resulting in fatalities, underscoring the need for stringent safety measures and oversight in the Hurghada tourist industry.