The Sea Story, which left Port Ghalib on Sunday on a multi-day diving expedition, was expected to reach Hurghada on Friday. But off Sataya Reef, he was surprised by extreme weather conditions. The Red Sea Ports Authority also closed navigation in the region this weekend due to the bad weather.
In a video shared on social media, the 33 survivors draped in blankets get off a speedboat at a port near Marsa Alam. Among them, Lucianna Galetta (30 years old) and Christophe Lemmens (37 years old), who, miraculously, survived this tragedy.
“They saw themselves die”
For Lucianna and Christophe, the shipwreck was a real nightmare. “When the boat sank, my sister and her companion were woken up by the shaking.”says Andrea Galetta, Lucianna’s brother. They immediately understood that the boat was tilting. They tried to unblock the door to their cabin, blocked by belongings, but water quickly seeped in when they managed to open it.
The couple escaped drowning by taking refuge in an air pocket inside the boat. Stuck in a hold for more than 35 hours, they had to face fear, loneliness and the constant threat of water. “They saw themselves dieconfides André, still upset. It was not rescuers, but divers who finally found them and got them out. For more than 24 hours, we had no news. It was unbearable. The pressure only eased on Tuesday evening, when I finally heard my sister’s voice on the phone.”
If Lucianna and Christophe have no physical injuries, the psychological shock is immense. “They lost everything: their papers, their passports, their money and their phones. They are morally exhausted, but they are alive, and that is the main thing. “Other people weren’t so lucky and are still shocked to have seen the lifeless bodies of other passionate divers like them.”
A repatriation in sight
Since their rescue, the two Namur residents have been taken care of in a hospital in Marsa Alam, but the conditions there are very rudimentary. “They received assistance from a consul from the Belgian embassy, who supported them with administrative and logistical procedures.explains Andrea Galetta. Europe Assistance has confirmed their repatriation, which should take place in the coming hours.
In a video addressed to their loved ones Wednesday afternoon, Christophe Lemmens sent a message to his loved ones. “We are still in the hospital because we had to answer questions from the police. Europe Assistance will finally repatriate us, and Belgium is doing everything in place to help us. This morning, it was still very hard, but things are getting organized. Thank you all for your messages of support, and we hope to be back soon because we can’t take it anymore.”
gullEverything is in order, they will return soon with a private plane and with a doctor. They will be followed on their return and well looked after.
The sinking of the Sea Story is the second such incident in the region this year. In June, another boat suffered serious damage from similar waves, although there were no casualties in the accident. This tragedy raises questions about maritime safety in the Red Sea, despite regular inspections of ships. The Sea Story, owned by an Egyptian national, had passed a safety inspection in March with no reported problems. Certified for one year, the boat theoretically had to meet current safety standards. But faced with this week’s extreme weather conditions, even these standards seem to have shown their limits.
For those close to Lucianna and Christophe, the return of this Namur couple is now the priority. And if the emotion is still raw, relief dominates after days of fear and uncertainty. A happy outcome for these survivors, forever marked by the ordeal they went through. “Everything is in order, they should be repatriated this Thursday with a private plane and with a doctor. They will be followed on their return and well looked after.”
