A diver who helped retrieve bodies from the sinking Lamma IV after the National Day ferry disaster recalled yesterday that it was like a washing machine inside the cabin.
The Lamma IV collided with the ferry Sea Smooth near Lamma Island as it carried passengers to view a fireworks display, killing 39.
Fire Services Department diver Yuen Ka-wai told a commission of inquiry that he was pushed into the cabin of the Lamma IV by a strong current after divers broke windows.
Clearing debris from the cabin, he saw a man’s body trapped by benches on the main deck. He retrieved the body and handed it to another fireman.
“When I was in the cabin, the water rushed in. It was like being in a washing machine,” he said.
At a depth of three metres he felt as though he was being pulled to the surface by the strong current.