Posted by ChasinDatPaper on September 18, 2010 at 4:30pm
Video And Pics After The JumpShocking video footage of a P&O cruise caught in severe storms that left 42 people injured has been published online.
The Australian Pacific Sun cruise liner was around 400miles from the coast of New Zealand when giant waves hit the boat causing it to list violently.
And as the ship struggles in the high seas, staff and guests are sent flying backwards and forwards, trying to grab on to anything nailed down - and failing.
Heads up: A lady careens into a pillar on the fifth floor after the cruise liner was caught up in heavy storms
The waves were so powerful that they lashed as high as the fifth deck.
The receptionists are shown clinging on to their desks and computers before the more severe waves hit the liner.
But soon they, and the guests, are sent careering across the floor like rag dolls, helpless and out-of-control.
The Pacific Sun was on the return leg of an eight-night sailing to the Islands of Vanuatu when the storm hit.
Diners were sitting down for their evening meal shortly after dark...one described the scene as 'like being in a disaster movie
Sent flying: A cook holds on for dear life while another man is whizzed, head first, across the floor
Tables, chairs and passengers are hurled from side to side. Several people are injured by sliding tables and chairs, as well as by getting slammed into columns.
P&O offered passengers a 25 per cent discount on their next cruise - but after this ordeal one would suppose that all of those involved would be happier on terra firma.
The CCTV footage from the incident, which took place in 2008, has just been released by the Liveleaks website.
One passenger, Elizabeth Basher, suffered a fractured knee during the storm: 'We were getting a pre-dinner drink at the bar, moved to a safe place to be on the carpet to get some traction, and suddenly it happened, and we were just thrown across towards a plate-glass window,' she said
A second video taken below deck shows heavy equipment, including a forklift, being tossed around like toys and narrowly missing a crew member.
A Carnival Australia spokesperson, the parent company for P&O, said the footage had been seen before and described the conditions at sea as 'extreme'.
David Johns said: 'A series of waves buffeted the ship, having an impact for people onboard.
'This was an exceptionally rare occurrence.The incident was fully investigated and lessons learnt have been heeded, including the securing of tables and other furnishings aboard.'
Source: Daily MailRead more…
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