British ships end rescue effort

HMS Invincible rescued 12 survivors

British Navy ships that helped rescue the survivors of the Greek ferry disaster are pulling out as hopes of finding more people alive fade.

At least 471 people survived the disaster but 62 are known to have died, according to the Greek authorities. Another 29 are missing.

The Express Samina, carrying 447 passengers and 64 crew, hit the Portes rocks, about two miles from the holiday island of Paros in the Aegean Sea, at 2230 (1930 GMT) on Tuesday.

We were terrified, cold and just waiting for help

Katrina Wallace, survivor

Twelve Britons are said to be among the survivors. There are no reports of British fatalities.

The Greek Government has announced an investigation into the tragedy, alleging "criminal negligence".

Five of the ship's officers, including the captain, Vassilis Yannakis, have been detained.

A helicopter from the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, which was exercising near Paros, rescued 12 survivors who were stranded on a rock, two of them suffering from hypothermia.

HMS Liverpool, HMS Cumberland and RFA Fort George also joined the Greek military, local fishing boats, pleasure craft and coastguard vessels in the huge rescue effort.

No survivors left

Captain Rory McLean of HMS Invincible told the BBC: "The people we brought in alive after three hours in the water were suffering from hypothermia and I'm afraid any hopes now are beginning to die."

Since rescuing the 12, including two British women, the aircraft carrier's helicopter crews - who also plucked seven bodies from the sea - have not found any more survivors.

The Greek coastguard released the British vessels from the operation because they believed there were no survivors left, Capt McLean said.

Survivor Katrina Wallace clung to rocks for three hours

British survivors Katrina Wallace, from Hertfordshire, and Nicola Gibson, from Derby, told BBC Radio 5 Live they had clung to rocks for three hours before being rescue by HMS Invincible.

"Luckily we found a lifeboat to get on despite all the screaming and chaos, it was just like on the Titanic I guess," she said.

"When we found the lifeboat we thought we were safe, but then we had hassle getting it down the side of the ship and getting away from the boat.

"Then we hit a rock, so then we had to clamber on to the rock with waves crashing around us.

Terrified

"We were terrified, cold and just waiting for help, we could see boats and lights on islands in the distance but we could do nothing but wait."

Ms Gibson said she had seen somebody pass a baby down from the ship but did not know if the infant had survived.

Fellow British survivor Michael Beaten told BBC News 24 that people were helping others.

"I got smashed on the head by a piece of the ship and I think I was trapped under something, but managed to swim clear and climb onto a lifeboat that was floating upside down," he said.

Another survivor, Lisa Torrance, from Inverness said people were hysterical and the crew "did nothing to help" as she and her boyfriend tried to escape.

A helicopter from HMS Invincible was involved in the rescue

The BBC's Jon Sopel said there was no accurate record of passenger numbers.

He spoke of unconfirmed reports that the crew had been watching a football match on television at the time of the collision.

Coastguards are reported to be baffled as to why the accident happened.

They say the rocky outcrop is well marked on nautical maps of the area and illuminated by a navigation light.

A popular tourist guide, Greek Island Hopping, warns travellers not to use the Express Samina, which it describes as a "grime bucket".

In a message to his Greek counterpart, Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke of his "immense sadness" at the tragedy.

The Foreign Office has set up a hotline for concerned relatives on 020 7839 1010.