Passengers aboard the P&O cruise ship Pacific Dawn caught in a storm near New Zealand said they were tossed around the deck like "ragdolls". Dozens required medical attention Wednesday night, the worst injuries being a fractured pelvis and fractured wrist. Many others suffered cuts and bruises.
Two women on the eight night cruise from New Plymouth, on New Zealand's west coast said it was "like being in a disaster movie." Others told of flying dishes and glasses. Erica MacGregor of New Plymouth said people screamed and cried. "The storm hit just after dark as many were sitting down for dinner," she said. "In the dining rooms the tables were bolted down but nothing else was and everything just went flying. It was like slow motion but happened so quickly. People were desperately trying to grab hold of things to keep safe." Chris and Joy Vickers from Tauranga were on the ship's top deck when a massive wave hit and say they were thrown around "like human ragdolls". "Just think (of the movie) Poseidon," said Joy Vickers.
A spokesman for Carnival Australia, the company that operates the vessel, said the ship tilted about 20 degrees at about 8 p.m. Wednesday night after it encountered 20 foot waves and 50 knot winds. Forty-two people went to the ship's medical center. Three were under medical supervision when the ship came into port.
Carnival denied some media reports that one person lost a foot and others lost fingers. The company is offering counseling for passengers and crew. Passengers on the cruise have also been offered a 25 percent discount on the cost of a future cruise, and arrangements will be made for those who missed flights because the ship arrived in port one day late. (Live News)
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