A HORRIFYING video shows passengers screaming for help as a cruise ship sinks in rough seas.
One passenger aged 75 died during Tuesday’s tragedy near Bahamas capital Nassau.
The ferry boat started sinking after encountering rough water and large wavesTikTok/kellyswitz
Passengers screamed for help and panicked as the ship tilted dangerously to one sideTikTok/kellyswitz
Luckily nearby vessels came to the rescue as terrified passengers abandoned the deck
An enjoyable excursion along scenic shores of crystal clear blue waters of Bahamas turned into a tragedy in a matter of minutes.
TikTok user Kelly Schissel documented the terrifying moment that shows people in life-jackets jumping off the ferry as they escaped to save their lives.
Schissel remained surprisingly calm as she narrated the horror event.
“Our boat is sinking, so that’s fun. Everyone is freaking out,” she said in the TikTok.
You can hear people scream, panic and curse in the background of the video as the boat is tilting dangerously to one side.
The ferry was on its route to Blue Lagoon Island for a popular shore excursion.
A 100-passenger water shuttle departs from the Nassau Cruise Port, approximately three miles off the island.
At about 11am, two large waves hit the cruise causing it to take on water and tip dangerously as it was nearing its destination.
Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force said: “Approximately half an hour into the journey, the vessel faced rough seas in the vicinity, leading to it taking on water and ultimately becoming submerged just outside Blue Lagoon.”
Schissel said: ” It began taking on water on the main deck level, and passengers down below began to become agitated.”
The passengers put on life jackets and ran to the high side of the top deck level, according to Schissel.
Ultimately, voyagers decided to take initiative in their own hands and started jumping off the deck to swim to safety.
Fortunately, nearby Samaritan vessels saw the sinking and came to the rescue.
She also added that the crew didn’t provide much assistance.
“One of the crewmembers who was downstairs ran upstairs and was crying, absolutely bawling, and grabbing a life jacket. That’s when everybody was like . . . this is real, something’s happening,” said Schissel in a TikTok post.
The chilling disaster tragically resulted in a death of one elderly woman.
The exact cause of death and the identity of the victim are unknown, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Two more passengers were hospitalised as a precaution, with no other serious injuries reported.
Blue Lagoon Island issued a statement that read: “Emergency Teams from the island quickly arrived to render assistance.
“Passengers and 5 staff members were located and brought to the island and two passengers were taken to the hospital for additional care.
“All onboard are accounted for.”
Although the water around Blue Lagoon Island is shallow, the boat sank completely.
The double-decker came to rest 20 feet below with most of the top deck still visible above the waterline.
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