Irish couple on stricken ship safe
An Irish couple who were on board a stricken cruise ship that ran aground off the Italian coast have spoken of their ordeal (AP)
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An Irish couple who were on board a stricken cruise ship that ran aground off the Italian coast have told of their ordeal.
At least three people died in the accident near the Tuscan holiday island of Giglio.
The vessel, which was carrying more than 4,000 passengers, ran aground and keeled over after apparently sailing off course.
Seamus and Carol Moore from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, described the terror that unfolded as the liner keeled over.
The husband and wife, who took the cruise to celebrate a birthday, spent two-and-a-half hours on deck before being rescued.
"The staff did their best to advise us in terms of going out one by one but of course there was total panic, so there was a melee and people clambering over other people rather than just taking their time," said Mr Moore.
"Eventually everybody got out or was got out. I had to climb out and get on top of the lifeboat and from there had to climb onto what was the lifeboat deck and at that stage the ship was listing very badly so we were advised to move to the front of the ship, which we did, lights were going on and off."
Retired Mr Moore said he thought he and his wife were going to die.
"Older people found it very difficult," he told broadcaster RTE.
"They couldn't keep their footing and slipped."
Press Association
