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Last Survivors Land in Chile

Passengers share harrowing tales

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2007 6:04 PM CST

(Newser) – A military plane flew the last 77 survivors of a sunken tour ship to Chile today, BBC reports. Some evacuees had already gone to the capital, Santagios, to return to their home countries. Others gave detailed, personal accounts of the shipwreck, revealing their fears of freezing to death and their emotional outbursts when the Explorer went under.

US passenger Eli Charney told Good Morning America that he'd fled his flooding cabin without hat or gloves, ABC reports. "I thought I was going to lose my toes," he said. "I was freezing and very seasick on the lifeboat." A passenger on the liner that saved them stood by as they watched the Explorer sink, CTV.ca reports. "All the emotions you could imagine were vented out by the passengers," he said.

An unidentified crew member of the Canadian ship MS Explorer waves to photographers as he arrives to Punta Arenas, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, after being evacuated from King George Island, Antarctica.... (Associated Press)

Passengers of the Canadian ship MS Explorer, arrive to Punta Arenas, Chile, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, after being evacuated from King George Island, Antarctica. The Ms Explorer, a Canadian-operated cruiser... (Associated Press)

In this photo released by Chile's Navy, the Liberian-flagged Explorer cruise ship is seen sinking after it hit an object in Antarctic waters, Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, some 880 kilometers southeast of Ushuaia,... (Associated Press)

Passengers of the Canadian ship MS Explorer arrive to Punta Arenas, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, after being evacuated from King George Island, Antarctica. Tourists from 14 nations rescued off Antarctica... (Associated Press)

Andrea Salas, from Argentina, a crew member of the Canadian ship MS Explorer, gives a thumb-up as she arrives to Punta Arenas, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, after being evacuated from King George Island,... (Associated Press)

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Passengers share harrowing tales

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First Survivors Land in Chile

Airlift begins to bring them from island to Chilean mainland

Italy Calls Off Search for Cruise Victims

16 still listed as missing, but conditions too dangerous

Costa Concordia Wreck Will Take Months to Remove

Locals worried about cruise ship's environmental impact

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16th body found in cruise ship disaster

Cruise Ship Runs Aground, 3 Bodies Found

Luxury liner shipwrecked off coast of Italy

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

shipwreck • Chile • Antarctica • adventure • cruise ships

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First Survivors Land in Chile

Airlift begins to bring them from island to Chilean mainland

Italy Calls Off Search for Cruise Victims

16 still listed as missing, but conditions too dangerous

Costa Concordia Wreck Will Take Months to Remove

Locals worried about cruise ship's environmental impact

Costa Survivors to Get $14K Each

16th body found in cruise ship disaster

Cruise Ship Runs Aground, 3 Bodies Found

Luxury liner shipwrecked off coast of Italy

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