'We thought we would all die'
Travellers aboard high-speed catamaran recall 'enormous whack' on impact and criticise indecision of crew as vessel leaned to one side
Passengers on board the high-speed ferry which collided with the ill-fated Lamma IV have told of an "enormous and sudden" impact followed by panic, a fear of sinking and confusion over what they had hit.
Shaken travellers on the Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry catamaran Sea Smooth recalled how, as the twin-hulled vessel tilted and lurched to the left in the seconds after impact, they rushed across the deck in an attempt to rebalance the boat, which they thought was sinking as water leaked in from a gash in the front.
They also hit out at a "totally inadequate" emergency response and a lack of communication by crew, and voiced serious concerns over life jackets which they said were difficult to access and put on.
They say passengers had no idea how many people were on board the Lamma IV or that there were people in the water, even after they realised they had collided with another boat.
Passengers added that there was a strong sense they might sink but that the crew and captain showed "indecision" before finally heading to shore.
Teacher and Lamma resident Chris Head, 48, who was sitting outside at the back of the upper deck of the Sea Smooth, relived the moment of impact and the harrowing minutes afterwards when he thought his 12-year-old son was aboard the stricken vessel the ferry had hit.