Ormoc ferry survivor: ‘I assumed I would die’

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – It was supposed to be a big day for 22-year-old Nino Alex Winceslao, a pharmacy messenger in Ormoc City, and 23-year-old Janet Patuar of Camotes, Cebu, who planned to tie the knot in Camotes on July 2.  

The couple, together with their 9-month-old daughter Alexa Jane and 7 of their relatives, boarded M/V Kim Nirvana bound for Camotes Island. However, they all landed at Ormoc Doctors’ Hospital after the ferry capsized. 

Up to 61 people died while 140 others survived in the ferry accident.

Wenceslao said few passengers wore life jackets, and if many of them did, they would have survived. 

Luckily, a few passengers in the water reached and clung on to debris from the ferry. 

“I thought this was it. I got weak and assumed I would die,” Winceslao said.

“I heard the cries of my daughter and my wife, and it gave me a shot of adrenaline…I grabbed my daughter, and my wife and I started to swim and forced our way up,” he said.

‘No alarm was raised’

Passengers struggled for more than an hour.

“We were all on the verge of death when suddenly rescuers came and began to pluck each and every one of us out of the water,” Winceslao said.

“The boat was really overloaded, and I think it was the coast guard negligence and must be blame for allowing the boat to sail,” said Winceslao.

Winceslao also disclosed that there was no alarm raised. However, they all knew that somebody from the port area of Ormoc saw them, for it was just about 200 to 300 meters away from the port.

“They don’t value the lives of passengers. The coast guard should have checked if the boat was properly equipped, and if not, they could have stopped the operation of the ship,’ he added.

“All we need is to have a speedy and impartial investigation. It is our hope that this could lead to substantial penalties and punishment for those responsible,” Winceslao said. – Rappler.com