One of the survivors of the FESTAC boat
mishap, Daniel Peters, last night relived his experience to The Nation,
describing it as a horrible experience.
He narrated how he battled for his life underwater, amidst the terrible smell and trampling on him by other victims.
He said in a phone interview: “I just
thank God for my life, the situation was not funny. We were more than 24
on the boat. The load was just excessive. It was the last boat for the
day and everyone rushed in.
“I was returning from work when it
happened. I work Swiss Bar and Lounge at Raji Rasak, FESTAC. As I was in
the boat, suddenly, water started entering into the boat. At first it
was like a joke but before we knew what was happening, the boat
capsized. That was how we all fell under the water.
“It was battle for survival. I know how
to swim but other people were pressing me under water. So, I was
gradually losing strength. But when it occurred to me that I was going
to die if I did not act fast, I mustered energy and swam with my last
strength. That was how the divers saw me and they came to my rescue.
“We were seven in all that were rescued
alive. Five men and two women, although the two women were not brought
to the hospital with us. I do not know where they are or what happened
to them. It was five of us, men, that were discharged from the hospital
yesterday.”
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