The Rebello family survives on unsinkable hope

On January 13 2014 it will be two years since the sinking of Costa Concordia cruise ship see box For the Rebello family tragedy has been compounded by the fact that they cannot hold a mass for Russel Rebello who has been missing since the incident Russel who worked as a waiter aboard the cruise ship cannot be officially declared dead as his remains are yet to be found Members of the US salvage company Titan and Italian firm Micoperi inspect the wreck of Italys Costa Concordia cruise ship after it was lifted to the surface on September 18 below Russel Rebello AFP PhotoKevin Russelrsquos elder brother is in Mumbai and spoke to SUNDAY MiDDAY exclusively ldquoItrsquos been more than 730 days since the incident took place Every day we find it difficult to accept that my younger brother is yet to be found The search has been temporarily suspended as the ship will be raised and taken to a dry port for investigations The search will resume to find the last person who is still missing hopefullyrdquo He added that the ship was uprighted in September 2013 also known as parbuckling and investigations had resumed thanks to the Italian authorities More than 50 experienced divers were flown in to begin the searchldquoA week later bone fragments were found although they were discarded as animal bones They finally found a body and declared it as Russelsrsquo based on the grey shoes that the body was wearingrdquo remembers Kevin ldquoThe body was badly decomposed so only a DNA test and an autopsy could reveal the true identity of the bodyThis was good news for our family We were ready to bring Russel and I began to plan the funeral But one morning I received a call from the Civil Protection agency of Italy the highest civil authority in Italy to inform me that the body was not Russelsrsquo but that of Maria GT another person who was also missing When the body was found initially and everyone thought it was Russell Mariarsquos husband Elio V called me up and said that he was happy for me as our ordeal has finally come to an end He also said that he will have to stay strong I felt sorry for him as we had gone through a lot since the whole incident and became closer His daughter who was on the cruise ship that night survived as her mother gave her a place on the lifeboat and did not make it herselfrdquoldquoBut after the result of the DNA test the situation changedrdquo continued Kevin ldquoI was angry again as this was the third time that the authorities and the media made a mistake in identifying the body I went for the funeral in Sicily Italy I placed a flower and picture of Russel on Maria Graziersquos coffin They sealed the grave and Russel was laid to rest with herrdquoldquoToday when I look at the ocean I consider it as Russelsrsquo tomb This will never end for me The day the Concordia will be completely dismantled and broken down I might surrender I have not lost hope yetrdquo said an emotional Kevin ldquoThis year I am in Mumbai and we will remember Russel in our prayers An evening prayer in memory of our Russel and the 31 people who lost their lives that night will reunite us at our family home in Naigaon West Vasai on January 13 Candles will be lit at that hour all over the worldrdquo he addedMeanwhile in Italy a commemorative second anniversary mass will be organised by the local bishop and the Mayor has declared a day of prayer to remember the lost lives A musical concert will be organised and at 94507 a candle light march will be organised A oneminute silence will also be observed and then ships and boats at the port will pay their respect to the lost lives by blaring their horns ldquoI was invited to participate in the event but I preferred to stay at home with my familyrdquo said Kevin ldquoI will leave for Milan on January 25 once again hoping to hear some news of RusselrdquoWhen tragedy struck On January 13 2012 at 2145 local time Costa Concordia hit a rock off Isola del Giglio A 50metre long gash bore through the hull Taking on water while being pushed by winds laterally the ship drifted back and was grounded near the shore It then partly capsized onto her starboard side in an unsteady position on a rocky underwater ledge Almost half of the ship remained above water but it was in danger of sinking completely into a trough that was 70 metres deep The cruise liner was carrying 3229 passengers and 1023 crewmembers all but 34 were rescued Thirty two bodies were found and two people are missing Authorities say there may have been other people who were not listed on board The search for bodies was abandoned at the end of January 2012Facts 14500 tonne The weight of the vessel32 The number of people who died when the ship ran aground in January 20124200 The number of passengers aboard the ship500 The number of men working on the salvage operations19 hours The amount of time taken to make the ship upright800 million The amount it took to turn the ship upright this month mdash the most expensive maritime salvage operation ever