'I feel bad in my heart to think of those deaths'

A mainland worker who narrowly escaped death in the poisonous gas accident told of his sorrow yesterday.

Hu Ronghua, 44, is in United Christian Hospital in a satisfactory condition.

Mr Hu is married with a son in China and came to work at the Universal Shipyard 15 months ago. He said he had been in similar tanks before, but they were less deep.

'We usually go down to examine the tank first. Then we would do some repair work if necessary,' he said.

'After I climbed down the tunnel I felt dizzy. I climbed back up but I felt like vomiting, and next moment lost consciousness.' Last night he still did not have enough strength to walk.

'I feel bad deep inside my heart to think of my fellow workers' deaths. One of them, Zhang Yinggang, was a university graduate and an engineer in China. It's a terrible pity.' Mr Hu said he had not decided whether to return to work.

His best friend, Zhang Shuyiao, also escaped death, but is in intensive care.