[ad_1]
A survivor of the cattle boat that disappeared during a typhoon off the coast of Japan reportedly saw others preparing to board a lifeboat when the disaster struck.
Speaking at RNZ’s Morning reportTom Suttor, a friend of the missing Australian Will Mainprize, claims that one of the two survivors witnessed the deployment of the life raft before being swept out to sea.
“Since the second survivor, in his statement, he has said that the crew was about to board a lifeboat before he was swept into the ocean.”
Japan Coast Guard
A 30-year-old Filipino national was the second crew member of the capsized cattle boat ‘Gulf Livestock 1’. He was seen to the left of the life raft calling for help.
“It gives me and Will’s friends a lot of hope that these people could potentially be on a life raft somewhere in a life-threatening situation.”
READ MORE:
* Families of Gulf Livestock 1 Crew Member May Take Legal Action, Says Maritime Attorney
* The family ‘understands the decision’ to narrow down the search for missing crew members
* Family of Southland man missing from cattle boat thanks supporters
* Cattle boat tragedy off Japan involving two kiwis ‘hits deep’ on experienced operator
The parents of Lukas Orda, a missing Australian veterinarian, have created a petition for the Australian government to carry out its own search.
The petition, which has received more than 4,300 signatures, claims that the Australian Consular Emergency Center provided Orda’s parents Ulrich and Sabine Orda with information from the Philippine Consul General on September 7, from one of the Filipino survivors who was dragged overboard.
“When the ship’s engine failed in the storm, the captain called the entire crew on the bridge in life jackets to get into the lifeboats. Three crew members were unable to reach the bridge and were swept overboard. When a large wave hit the ship and pushed it to the side, the second survivor was swept off the bridge and the lights went out. “
Orda’s parents state that “it is extremely worrying” given this information that the search would be suspended, “as this provided evidence that it was unlikely that there were people trapped on the ship and that they could still be floating in the ocean waiting to be rescued. “.
“Currently there have been no sightings of any other corpse of the 40 remaining crew, 4 life rafts and 1 life boat that have not yet been found counted … I ask you where are the remaining boats? Therefore, there is a strong possibility that at least some of the crew members, including Lukas and William, were turned into a lifeboat or raft, ”the petition says.
A second petition, which includes photos of the two missing Australians, has garnered more than 10,000 signatures.
Two kiwis are among those still missing: Arrowtown, father of two Scott Harris, 37, and Southland man Lochie Bellerby, in his 20s.
Supplied
Scott Harris (left) and Lochie Bellerby were aboard Gulf Livestock 1.
The Gulf Livestock 1 left Napier in mid-August and was traveling to the east coast of China with 43 crew on board and 5,800 cows. The 140-meter-long ship reportedly sank after losing an engine due to bad weather from Typhoon Maysak on 2 September.
Two survivors have been rescued, and several lifeboats or rafts are still missing.
Suttor, who had sailed with Mainprize, told RNZ that life rafts deploy like airbags “once the ship is below 4 meters.” Search and rescue efforts were temporarily suspended earlier in the week due to another typhoon in the southern region.
“Another typhoon… could have swept them out of the search area the Coast Guard is looking at.
“The fact that we haven’t found the remaining three makes me think there are more out there.”
Supplied
One of the two Kiwis on board, Scott Harris, can be seen in the footage, which was filmed by an Australian crewmate.
Search and rescue efforts by the Japanese Coast Guard have been curtailed. The focus is now on understanding the cause of the incident.
While Suttor praised the coast guard’s efforts, he hoped the decision to cut back on search and rescue operations was not due to a lack of resources.
“It is not clear why, the exact reason why they are canceling it.
“If it’s a resource allocation problem, I think [the New Zealand and Australian] governments together can provide some resources in some way.
“[They have a] responsibility to do everything possible to get them home. “
10th Regional Headquarters of the Coast Guard of Japan / AP
A crew member was found floating in the ocean wearing a life jacket last week after the cattle boat capsized.
A spokesperson for Maritime New Zealand said on Thursday that they had been in close communication with the Japanese authorities leading the search and rescue response, and were offering support or information if necessary.
Suttor described his friend as an “inspiring guy.”
“Whatever he wants to do, he does it, and nothing is too ridiculous for it.
“[We] I want him to come back “.
Graham Flett / AP
The cattle boat was carrying 42 crew members and 5,800 cows.
