Diving accident survivor moved to private hospital

Speaking to Guardian Media, Boodram’s brother Larry said he remains severely traumatized by the ordeal.

RADHICA DE SILVA
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Christopher Boodram, the lone survivor of last weekend’s diving tragedy, has been moved to a private hospital.

Speaking to Guardian Media, his brother Larry said Christopher remains severely traumatized by the ordeal.

“We have stopped him from talking about what happened because every time he talks, he breaks down and cries. We are praying for him, and we just want him to get better,” Larry said.

Christopher Boodram was pulled out of the pipeline by diver Ronald Ramoutar, three hours after they were sucked into a vortex at the 30-inch diameter seabed pipeline which connects in a horse-shoe Berth’s No 5 and 6.

Boodram had been trapped inside the line along with Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagessar, Yusuff Henry and Kazim Ali Jr but was the only one to escape the ordeal.

Ramoutar said it was because of Kurban that he managed to bring Boodram to safety. The toxic fumes from the pipeline affected Boodram’s lungs and doctors said this may affect him in years to come.

Larry said after his brother was pulled out of the pipeline, no other diver was sent in to rescue the other men. The Coast Guard divers did not have their diving gear and the rescue mission was aborted even though the men were still stuck in the pipeline.

Kurban’s sister Haffeza Kurban-Hyatali described her brother as an excellent diver who had over 30 years of experience. She said their father Ramjohn had died in 1985 after an offshore platform exploded, yet Kurban joined the commercial diving fraternity because of his love for the job.

Meanwhile, Rishi Nagessar’s wife Vanessa Kussie said operations were still underway to find her husband’s body. Her family had given up hope that he would be alive.

Three other bodies were retrieved on Monday afternoon.