Following our report yesterday regarding the fire and sinking of Sea Legend in the Red Sea, many guests of the tragedy have kindly reached out to offer some first hand knowledge of the run up to the incident, and the aftermath which resulted in a German woman in her mid-50’s being missing.
M/Y Sea Legend became engulfed in a devastating blaze on February 22nd around 4 am. The vessel, scheduled for a voyage from February 17th to 24th to Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone, was carrying 17 divers from various countries, along with 12 crew members and 2 dive guides. The majority of guests had originally been booked on other vessels, but for local logistical reasons had been moved onto Sea Legend only a few days prior to the trip.
Eyewitnesses, many of whom wish to remain anonymous, have provided accounts of the chaos that ensued as passengers evacuated the burning vessel upon the activation of a manual emergency alarm.
The fire’s origin remains unknown, but it is believed to have started in the boat’s kitchen. Most passengers became aware of the fire either by detecting the smell of smoke or through fellow passengers knocking on their doors to rouse them.
The evacuation unfolded rapidly, with guests compelled to abandon ship within a mere 10 minutes of the alarm being raised. Amidst rough seas and the cover of night, survivors recall being ferried to safety aboard two zodiacs, each journey fraught with peril.
The two zodiacs were approximately 500m away from the engulfed boat when two explosions emanated from it. Buffeted by rough seas, navigation through the waves in the darkness proved difficult. With one zodiac unable to start its engine, it was tethered to the other zodiac using a rope, enabling the latter to tow it. Distressed divers urgently sought assistance via their cellphones.
By around 6 am, the two zodiacs diverged paths. The white zodiac, equipped with a functional motor, made its way towards shore approximately 9km away, albeit rapidly taking on seawater. Passengers were compelled to swim the final 200m to shore, sustaining cuts from the reef in shallow waters. Meanwhile, the red zodiac remained adrift, awaiting rescue. Ultimately, the Egyptian Navy came to their aid, reaching them around 6:45 am.
Tragically, amidst the turmoil, a German woman in her 50s remains unaccounted for and is presumed to have perished during the incident.
Survivors of the ordeal have raised grave concerns regarding the apparent absence of adequate safety measures aboard the ill-fated Sea Legend. Allegations of malfunctioning fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers, coupled with a lack of proper emergency protocols, paint a disturbing picture of the vessel’s preparedness for such an eventuality. Furthermore, survivors have shared accounts of feeling coerced into signing documents they did not fully understand, primarily drafted in Arabic. While suspicions linger regarding the purpose of these documents, no definitive conclusions can be drawn at this time.
It’s important to note that all information provided in this report is based on eyewitness accounts from guests who were onboard the M/Y Sea Legend at the time of the incident and very kindly came forward with information on what took place. Many of these witnesses have chosen to remain anonymous. The Scuba News is solely reporting what has been relayed to us.
We would like to thank those who have taken the time to talk to us about the events, which by all accounts is still proving harrowing. Our thoughts are with everyone who was onboard and in particular, the family of the missing diver
