Tears flowed and hugs were aplenty for the KwaZulu-Natal family who returned home on Saturday after surviving the shipwreck drama on Italy’s Tuscan Coast on January 13.
Relatives waited anxiously for the Agjee family, of Pietermaritzburg, to emerge from the international arrivals hall at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and, on being spotted, emotions got the better of everyone.
Overjoyed relatives ran to embrace the family who looked emotionally and physically drained.
Faizal Agjee, his wife, Nafeesa, and their children, Zahra and Zaheer, were among the 4 200 people on board the Costa Concordia which ran aground in the Mediterranean after ploughing into a reef.
Yesterday, divers found the body of a woman in the stern of the ship and on Saturday divers retrieved the body of a woman who was found trapped in a corridor.
This brought to 13 the number of people certified dead from the accident, the ANSA news agency reported.
Rescuers yesterday resumed their search of the shipwreck after a slight shift in the half-sunken vessel’s position had forced an overnight halt in operations, Italian officials said.
More than 20 people are still missing.
The Agjees had to evacuate the dining room as the ship started listing.
They had to jump from a lifeboat which malfunctioned back on to the ship and run through passageways, holding on to anything they could to avoid slipping. They managed to jump on to the roof of a rescue boat.
Recounting his ordeal yesterday, businessman Faizal, 52, said the family were relieved to be back home.
“It has been exhausting, but we are happy to be back.”
Zahra, 22, said the reunion at the airport was more emotional for their relatives.
“We were safe and we knew we were okay, but others had to see us in good health before accepting that we are well.”
Sticking together and talking as a family throughout the remainder of the holiday made it easier for them to deal with the trauma.
Overwhelming
“I think the best part was coming home and receiving so much of love and support. It was overwhelming,” said Zahra, a BCom graduate who will begins her Honours degree this year.
Faizal said the company managing the Costa Concordia pulled out all stops to accommodate them up until they had boarded the flight back home.
“They looked after us and did not compromise; we were put up in the best hotels, and were escorted past all queues and checkpoints at airports.”
Having lost eight bags, the family was given almost e1 000 (R10 000) in cash to buy clothing and other items.
After being put up in the Rome Hilton Hotel the Agjees managed to make contact with a Pretoria-based Mike van Dijk and his wife, Narien, who had also been on the ship.
Faizal also praised the SA Embassy in Rome for assisting with the passports and their travel agent Pentravel for ensuring that their stay and return home was comfortable.
They had also received a full refund on their tickets for the trip. The family tried to make the most of their trip and arranged to tour Rome, Venice and Florence before returning to home.
Faizal and Nafeesa, 48, return to work today.
Zaheer, 18, who was commended by his family for keeping a cool head throughout the ordeal, did not expect to receive so many messages of support from friends and family, but was greatful.
The matriculant who has been accepted by several universities to study towards a BCom degree has yet to decide which one to study at. Marine biology will be far from his mind, however, as he and his sister say they will not go on a cruise again.
