Cruise Ship Disaster: Captain Claims He Didn't Jump Ship, He 'Tripped' Into Lifeboat
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 @ 06:30PM
By Debbie Emery - Radar Reporter
With the finger of blame in the cruise ship disaster pointing at the Costa Concordia's captain, the man who should have been at the helm when it went down claims that he "tripped" into the lifeboat that took him to safety.
"I had no intention of escaping," said Francesco Schettino as he revealed the scenario that lead him stumbling to survival while at least 11 people died, reported ABCNews.com.
PHOTOS: See The Horrifying Pictures From Inside The Wrecked Cruise Ship
"I was helping some passengers put the life boat to sea. At a certain point the mechanism for lowering it, blocked. We had to force it. Suddenly the system unblocked itself and I tripped and I found myself inside the life boat with a number of passengers," Schettino claimed.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, five days after the cruise ship capsized off the Tuscany coast, officials suspended ongoing rescue operations Wednesday as the ship continued to shift, endangering the divers and firefighters searching for the 22 people still missing, including an American couple from Minnesota.
PHOTOS: The New 'Titanic' -- Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Runs Aground
In Tuesday's court hearing, Schettino argued that once the lifeboat hit the water it was impossible to get back on to the ship to save the passengers at peril.
While he claims he didn't intend to abandon ship, the 52-year old reportedly admitted to the court that he lied when he told officials that he had dropped anchor shortly after the Costa Concordia slammed into a rock to stabilize it.
PHOTOS: Celebrities We Lost In 2011
Schettino also admitted that he made mistakes leading up to the crash, but claimed that the now-controversial course that cut close to the rocks had been set from the beginning.
The captain had been in jail since the accident while investigators question him for abandoning his vessel while thousands of passengers. A judge has now ordered him to be held on house arrest and he has returned to his Naples home.
The Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers when it went aground Friday night off the Tuscan coast of Italy.
Capt. Schettino was allegedly observed by many getting into a life boat and covering himself with a blanket so as not to be seen. The ship was reportedly four miles off course when it hit rocks that tore a 160 ft. gash in the hull.
RELATED STORIES:
Officials Forced To Suspend Search For Victims In Ship Disaster; 11 Dead, 22 Missing
Modern Family Star Called Aunt & Uncle Who Survived Ship Disaster After Golden Globes
Officials Suspend Search For Survivors In Cruise Ship Disaster, C.E.O. Admits ‘Human Error’ Made
Costa Concordia Captain Arrested, Abandoned Sinking Cruise Ship!
- 'The Hunger Games' Star Elizabeth Banks Talks Difficult Scene — Huffington Post
- Kissing Connection: Past and Present Loves of Vanessa Hudgens — Celebuzz
- The Next Season Of “America’s Next Top Model” Will Feature A British Invasion — The Frisky
- Kate Middleton: Puppy's name is Lupo — Zap2It
- Justin Theroux: Jennifer Aniston Loves When I Break Dance — Celebuzz
- Lana Del Rey: From Tomboy To Head Turner! — Global Grind
- Click Here & Join Our Facebook Page — Facebook
Don't you hate when that happens....tripping and falling into a life boat?
Posted Thu, 01/19/2012 - 11:01am
if he fell in the life boat he should have be telling everyone that he was the captain and had to get back to the ship and they all would of been happy to help him back..what a silly excuse..did he think they wanted him to stay in the lifeboat too?
Posted Thu, 01/19/2012 - 8:22am
Sad, SPINELESS LITTLE MAN. However, I think more celebs should use his excuse when caught cheating = D
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:40pm
And the wind just happened to blow that blanket on top of him. This jerk is really reaching...
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:12pm
And the wind just happened to blow that blanket on top of him. This jerk is really reaching...
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 11:12pm
Give him a lie detector test.
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 10:43pm
He did trip... over his own lies. Witnesses reported seeing the Captain, along with his 1st Officers, entering a life boat and head straight for shore. He was afraid to go back on board. What a coward.
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 9:45pm
put this liar and cheater(on his wifein jail, and charge him with manslaughter again..just like in the other case with which he is being charged. the guy is a sick egomaniac a cheater and a fraudif that oil/gas leaks he and carnival are sunk
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 9:33pm
He better be praying the passengers in the life boat can back up his story.
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 7:22pm
i read a report that he raided the safe before he left. does anyone know if that's been confirmed?
Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 7:31pm