A survivor of last week’s migrant boat tragedy claims “so many more” lives could have been saved.
At least 78 died when the ship capsized in the Mediterranean off Greece on Wednesday with many more feared missing – including over 100 children.
The crammed vessel was sailing from Libya to Italy when it was intercepted by Greek coastgaurds. Ayad, 24, from Syria, said small hands grasped at him as he swam for his life, adding: “I pushed them off. I think they’re dead.”
Ayad said he and a few dozen others were afloat and claimed they could see lights from a stationary coastguard ship – but no help came for three hours. He said: “They just watched. They could have saved so many more.”
Ayad recalled how the boat sank after the coastguard ship made contact. He was one of 104, all men, who made it but two of his friends died. Estimates of the number on board range from 400 to 750 but only around 100 names have been shared by families on social media.
The Greek government denied the boat was sunk by a rope attached to it by the coastguard, saying it was used “to steady themselves, to approach, to see if they wanted any help”.
A spokesman added: “There was no mooring rope. They refused it, they said, ‘No help, we go to Italy’ and continued on their way.” The Greek coastguard denied it had made “any move” that could have imperilled the migrants.
A spokesman said: “There was no push, tug or whatever. We approached and tied up for five minutes to try to make contact. They loosened the ropes and cast them back. I don’t know who these people are and what they are alleging. We acted immediately.
“The coastguard has saved thousands of lives and engaged in hundreds of operations. These allegations are lies.”
