Captain gives more details about shipwreck

More details are emerging about the night of terror on board the Costa Concordia, and from Captain Schettino’s own lips, as he has been telling his story to the authorities. Schettino along with first officer Chiro Ambrosio remain the only two people indicted.

Schettino has variously stated he fell into the water, or a lifeboat, and then sat on rocks surveying the disaster before being persuaded back in the lifeboat.

“They did not find him hidden among the passengers, although he was on a rock by the sea, he was always watching his ship, continuing to give information and answering questions on the phone,” said his lawyer Bruno Leporatti.

Although Schettino seems to have been sunk by the leaked contents of his radio call with the harbourmasters, his other officers and crew carried on calming passengers and evacuating people after he had abandoned ship.

He admits sailing east of the island so a crew member could say hello to his father, but insists he had taken the course safely several times before.

“We would like to avoid the situation where Schettino could escape from his responsibilities. Given the behaviour he had onboard, that doesn’t give us a positive outlook,” says Italian prosecutor Francesco Verusio.

In fact the prosecution is debating whether or not to appeal against Schettino’s release on bail as it fears he may abscond.

The families of some of the victims are starting to arrive in Giglio. Among the first was relatives of a Peruvian woman, Erica Soria, who has been missing since Friday, last seen in the water next to an overcrowded lifeboat.

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