Vietnam Boat Tragedy Survivor Reaches Chennai, Recalls Horror: “The Boat Flipped Within Three Minutes”

CHENNAI, Jul 14: A survivor of the deadly Vietnam speedboat accident has shared a harrowing account of the tragedy, recalling how a routine tourist journey turned into a life-threatening disaster within just a few minutes.

Nirmal Kumar, who returned to Chennai on July 13 night, described the terrifying moments when the boat carrying Indian tourists overturned near Hon May Rut Ngoai, close to Phu Quoc Island, on July 11.

The accident involved 32 Indian passengers and four Vietnamese crew members. The speedboat capsized during an island transfer, resulting in the deaths of 15 Indian tourists. Sixteen survivors have since returned to India after receiving medical care, while one injured passenger continues to remain in critical condition at a hospital in Vietnam.

Among those who lost their lives were 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. Two women were also among the deceased.

Boat Flipped Shortly After Leaving the Shore

Narrating the frightening experience, Kumar said the group had boarded the closed speedboat as part of their final day of travel, which had begun on July 8.

The survivor said the boat had travelled only around 300 metres when a powerful wave struck it, causing the vessel to lose balance.

“Within three minutes of boarding and barely crossing 300 metres, the boat turned upside down,” Kumar said.

According to him, the sudden impact of the rough sea caused passengers sitting on one side of the boat to fall towards the opposite side. The sudden shift in weight destabilised the vessel, leading to the complete capsizing of the boat.

He explained that the driver and tour guide immediately jumped into the water after the accident. Kumar and around 20 other passengers followed them and managed to escape.

However, passengers seated towards the rear of the boat faced a tragic fate.

Passengers Trapped Inside Closed Vessel

Kumar said the closed structure of the speedboat became a major challenge during the rescue operation, as several passengers were unable to escape after the vessel overturned.

“Nearly 15 people were trapped inside. Although they had life jackets on, the overturned boat blocked their exit, making it impossible for them to survive,” he said.

Rescue teams reached the accident site within around 10 minutes and began pulling out survivors who had managed to get outside the boat.

However, recovering those trapped beneath the vessel took significantly longer, with rescue personnel spending nearly 20 to 30 minutes in the operation.

Survivor Lost Childhood Friend in Tragedy

The disaster also left Kumar personally devastated as his childhood friend Muruga Prabhu was among those who died in the accident.

Kumar said he remained in Vietnam after the tragedy to help complete recovery efforts and official procedures related to the deceased.

“I returned only after ensuring that my friend’s body was recovered and all required formalities were completed,” he said.

Lack of Medical Facilities Affected Rescue Efforts

Kumar also highlighted concerns raised by a doctor who was travelling with the group, saying the absence of certain emergency medical supplies at the accident site may have affected rescue efforts.

He said the doctor believed that immediate availability of essential medicines and medical equipment could have helped save additional lives.

“Our co-passenger doctor informed us that if some emergency medicines had been available at the spot, four or five more people might have survived. We are bringing this issue before the Vietnam authorities,” Kumar said.

Tamil Nadu Lost Majority of Victims

The accident affected several families across southern India, with Tamil Nadu recording the highest number of casualties.

Kumar said 10 victims from the state were among those who died. The deceased included four people from Chennai, three from Tiruchirapalli, and one each from Salem, Erode, and Tiruppur.

The tragedy has triggered mourning across the affected states, with families awaiting the return of their loved ones’ mortal remains.

Bodies Brought Back to India

The mortal remains of the victims reached Mumbai at around 9:30 pm on July 13. Authorities made arrangements for transporting the bodies to Chennai and Coimbatore on Tuesday morning.

Government officials coordinated with families to ensure the remains were handed over smoothly after arrival.

Kumar expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Indian Embassy and Vietnamese authorities during the rescue and repatriation process.

Survivor Appeals for Government Support

While thanking officials involved in the rescue operation, Kumar urged both the Central and state governments to provide financial assistance to families who lost their loved ones.

He said the tragedy had caused immense emotional and financial distress for the affected families.

“It was an unimaginable tragedy that happened on foreign soil. The families are going through extreme pain, and government support would help them during this difficult time,” Kumar said.

The survivor’s account has highlighted the devastating impact of the Vietnam boat accident and the urgent need for improved safety measures and emergency preparedness in tourist transport operations.