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Karen Adrian / Supplied
Scott Harris aboard Gulf Livestock 1.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
The family of a man missing after the cattle export ship he was traveling on capsized and sank in the East China Sea says the government is not doing enough to find him.
Father of two Scott Harris, 37, is one of two New Zealanders on Gulf Livestock 1, as well as 41 other crew members.
Harris worked as a herd manager for nearly 6,000 head of cattle aboard the ship.
READ MORE:
* One of the New Zealanders missing in a capsized cattle boat is from Southland
* Support is provided to families of two kiwis on lost cattle export ship, says PM
* The Japanese Coast Guard finds another survivor of the lost cattle ship
* Political parties influence exports of live products after the collapse of Gulf Livestock 1
* Second survivor rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard after the death of the sunken ship, the kiwis are still missing
* Cattle boat with two kiwis on board lost an engine and capsized, survivor says
A second typhoon was to hit the area over the weekend.
Despite that, his mother Karen Adrian said the family has not given up hope of finding him alive, but time is running out and she wants the government to help her with search and rescue efforts.
He said it was his son’s maiden trip and he just wants to be found and brought home.
“He is the most loyal and caring loving son any mother could wish for, you know he still says ‘I love you’ when he leaves me, you know he is just beautiful, very popular, many friends.”
He said it has been terrible for the family.
“It’s just horrendous, it’s heartbreaking, it’s unfair, it’s lonely.”
Karen Adrian / Supplied
Scott Harris was on his first trip.
He said he does not feel that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has kept it updated and that he has not heard from the government at all.
“I know Jacinda [Ardern] I was up there saying that she understands that there is support, that is not true, we have not heard anything from the government, not anything.
“You know we need help, I have questions I must have asked, ‘Why aren’t we there helping?’ ‘How do I get to Japan?’ ‘Shouldn’t I go?’, You know we’re just alone here with no support. “
Adrian said he has a lot of questions that he wants answered about what happened on the ship.
“They should know that, so what are the protocols, can I get a translation of the second survivor’s testimony?
“I want to know what the sequence of events was according to those two survivors, the period of time, like after the engine failed, what it did, how long it was before the emergency systems were activated … when did the He told them to put on their life jackets, did they tell them to leave the ship? Can you confirm everything that happened?
She said survivors could answer these questions.
Adrian said there are two visible lifeboats, one is in the water, but he wants to know if the other made it off the boat.
He also wants to know if the ship has been found or not.
She asks what kind of training was given on board to deal with such an emergency, as her son would have had no idea what to do since it was his maiden voyage.
Graham Flett / AP
Gulf Livestock 1 is sailing through Port Phillip.
Adrian wants to know how long they’re going to keep searching and why New Zealand hasn’t deployed a search and rescue squad to help, but said MFAT told him they had to be invited.
“Why don’t we say ‘let’s come’? There are two New Zealanders in the South China Sea who need help and we are doing nothing about it.
“I just think it’s scary, I know there have been two typhoons, I know the chances are slim, but there is still a possibility, you know they could be in that other lifeboat.”
Karen Adrian was contacted by RNZ through Simon Bridges of National.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
