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Cruise ship escape described by honeymooning Briton Cruise ship escape described by honeymooning Briton
(about 4 hours later)
A honeymooning British couple on a cruise ship which ran aground off the Italian coast have revealed how they had to use a ladder to escape. A honeymooning British couple on a cruise ship which ran aground off the Italian coast have described how they had to use a ladder to escape.
Ian and Janice Donoff climbed out on to the side of the stricken vessel after lifeboats failed to release because of the listing ship's angle.Ian and Janice Donoff climbed out on to the side of the stricken vessel after lifeboats failed to release because of the listing ship's angle.
They were eventually lowered down a rope ladder to awaiting life rafts.They were eventually lowered down a rope ladder to awaiting life rafts.
At least 30 UK nationals were among the Costa Concordia's 4,000 passengers and crew when it hit a rock on Friday.At least 30 UK nationals were among the Costa Concordia's 4,000 passengers and crew when it hit a rock on Friday.
Three people have been confirmed as dead and around 40 people are still believed to be missing.Three people have been confirmed as dead and around 40 people are still believed to be missing.
The first Britons caught up in the disaster - in the centenary year of the sinking of the Titanic - are expected back on UK soil later on Sunday. Most reached land by lifeboats but some swam ashore, or were airlifted from the vessel by coastguard, navy and air force helicopters.
Some are believed to have headed to Rome where consular staff were working to provide emergency travel documents to replace passports abandoned in the ship's cabins. A South Korean couple were found alive in a cabin more than 24 hours after the ship ran aground, and a third survivor has also been found in the ship, which is lying on its side 200m (650ft) off the holiday island of Giglio.
Divers have searched rooms in the cruise ship, which is lying on its side 200m (650ft) off the holiday island of Giglio. The first Britons caught up in the disaster are expected back on UK soil later on Sunday.
A man and a woman were later found alive on the deck levels above the water line, according to Italian media. 'Making progress'
Two French passengers and a Peruvian crewman are known to have died. The British Ambassador to Italy, Christopher Prentice, has visited some of the survivors and told the BBC: "We have worked throughout the day with a team on the ground here and further teams deploying from London, with the Italian authorities.
Mr and Mrs Donoff were enjoying a magic show when the lights went off followed by an "incredible noise of scraping". "We're making good progress on the lists of those who we believe to have been involved, who were British.
After reaching the ship's emergency meeting point, Mr Donoff said they were unable to board a lifeboat as there was "no gravity" to take them down. "We're not yet in a position to confirm numbers or comment on the whereabouts and welfare of them all.
"But we are making good progress in establishing that so we'll continue until that work is complete."
He said he had spoken to some British survivors who he described as being "relieved, but worried about others".
Some are believed to have headed to Rome, where consular staff were working to provide emergency travel documents to replace passports abandoned in the ship's cabins.
Mr and Mrs Donoff were enjoying a magic show when the lights went off followed by an "incredible noise of scraping", and people started rushing out of the auditorium.
After reaching the ship's emergency meeting point, Mr Donoff said they boarded a lifeboat but then had to get out again because it could not be released.
He said: "Panic really got in. We realised we had to get out on to the side of the ship, which was now nearly 90 degrees.He said: "Panic really got in. We realised we had to get out on to the side of the ship, which was now nearly 90 degrees.
"Somebody got the idea of getting a ladder so we could get out. And once we got out, rather precariously, we had to wait while the locals came out on their boats."Somebody got the idea of getting a ladder so we could get out. And once we got out, rather precariously, we had to wait while the locals came out on their boats.
'Most frightening'
"And individually we had to go there on the side of the ship to be helped into the life raft that was there.""And individually we had to go there on the side of the ship to be helped into the life raft that was there."
He added: "It's the most frightening thing coming down on a rope ladder by the whole side of the ship clutching on for dear life... it was an unbelievable ordeal."He added: "It's the most frightening thing coming down on a rope ladder by the whole side of the ship clutching on for dear life... it was an unbelievable ordeal."
The Foreign Office has set up a phone line for people who are concerned about their relatives and href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=716010282" >is offering advice on its website. A number of British entertainers and dancers were among the 1,000-strong crew.
A Foreign Office spokesman said he had no details of any British casualties. Sandra Cook told BBC News that her daughter Kirsty, who was one of eight British dancers working on the ship, escaped by climbing down a rope ladder into another boat.
Staff from the British embassy in Rome have arrived in the area and are providing consular assistance. "I asked whether she had anything. She'd lost everything and she said that she was lucky to be alive and very thankful," said Mrs Cook, who spoke to her daughter earlier.
Christopher Prentice, the British ambassador to Italy, told BBC News he had spoken to some British survivors who he described as being "relieved but worried about others". Philip Metcalf's daughter Rose was also working as a dancer on the ship. He explained that he had spoken to her and that she said she was one of the last to leave the stricken vessel.
"We're making good progress on the lists of those whom we believe to have been involved who were British," he said. "She obviously put her warm weather clothes on and just went through the routine of what they had to do, what was important - the talks and drills of going to the right place to take a check of the passengers to help them onto the boats.
"We're not yet in a position to confirm numbers or to comment on the whereabouts or welfare of them all but we are making good progress in establishing that." "So they helped them onto the boats and obviously they must have run out of boats, and she was one of the last ones left on."
Anyone concerned about British passengers should contact either the British Embassy in Rome on 0039 06 4220 0001 or the Foreign Office in London on 0207 008 1500. Anyone concerned about British passengers should contact either the British Embassy in Rome on 0039 06 4220 0001 or the Foreign Office in London on 0207 008 1500. The Foreign Office href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=716010282" >is offering advice on its website.
Many people swam ashore or boarded lifeboats.
The precise number of those who remain unaccounted for is unclear. Late on Saturday local official Giuseppe Linardi said up to 41 people were missing.
Earlier he had put the figure at 70, adding that some might still be housed in private homes on Giglio - where the survivors first reached land.
A number of British entertainers and dancers are thought to be among the 1,000-strong crew.
Were you on the cruise ship? Do you have friends and family on the ship? Are you on the island of Giglio? Did you witness the accident? You can send your comments to the BBC using the form below:Were you on the cruise ship? Do you have friends and family on the ship? Are you on the island of Giglio? Did you witness the accident? You can send your comments to the BBC using the form below:
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