A passenger from a ferry which crashed into a dock with 210 people from Melbourne's Somali community onboard has described the ordeal as "traumatic".
Key points:
- The on-water gathering of family and friends consisted of mainly women and children
- Police say it is understood the charter boat hit a pole in the water
- A child of primary school age was among five passengers taken to hospital
Police said they believe the boat, the Lady Cutler, struck a pole in the water at about 5:30pm on Saturday.
Juaria Hassanaddie, 23, was onboard and was expecting the trip to conclude in the Docklands when she heard a "loud thud".
"Everyone who was sitting on a chair fell down. There were people on top of each other," she told the ABC.
"I rolled like a metre away."
"Seeing your mum thrown halfway across the boat and your little cousins crying because a chair fell on them. That's a lot."
"It was very traumatising."
The boat trip had been an extended family gathering involving mostly women and children.
Two pregnant women were among five passengers taken to hospital.
"Police were yelling at everybody to get off the boat — it was very chaotic," Ms Hassanaddie said.
Her father Osman Hassanaddie said a nine-year-old's front tooth fell out when she fell.
WorkSafe Victoria and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are investigating the crash.
Captain stood down
The company that operates the Lady Cutler, Melbourne Showboat, has issued an apology to passengers.
It confirmed the boat's captain had been stood down pending authorities' investigation.
"The Lady Cutler team are devastated regarding the incident yesterday and apologise to those individuals and families injured yesterday and the wider Somali community," a statement read.
"We have been operating on the Melbourne waters for 15 years, giving people a safe and enjoyable experience.
"The contributing factors for the incident will be investigated internally and by the appropriate authorities and we will have no further comment until those investigations are complete."
Farah Warsame, president of the Somali Community Inc had family members on board for the gathering, and said many were terrified by the incident.
People were still in shock when he rushed to the scene on Saturday afternoon, he said.
Ambulance Victoria said a primary school-aged boy was among five people taken to hospital with minor injuries. A number of other people were treated by paramedics at Central Pier.
The Lady Cutler is a former Sydney Harbour ferry that was decommissioned in 1991 and then refurbished for operation in Melbourne.
It operates as a charter cruise showboat, catering for up to 350 passengers.
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2023-01-15 08:03:45Z
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