This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
On October 2, 2019, a tragic incident occurred at the Likoni crossing in Kenya, where a mother and her daughter drowned in the Indian Ocean after their vehicle rolled off a ferry. The incident has raised many questions about what could have been done to save their lives.
According to Irish Water Safety, it is possible to survive even after your vehicle is submerged in water. The organization has provided a guide on what to do in the event a vehicle starts sinking in water.
What to Do If Your Vehicle Starts Sinking ¶
Stay calm and avoid panicking, as this will help you keep a level head and take more deliberate and life-saving actions.
Unfasten your seatbelt and that of children in the vehicle, and prepare the children to be ready to get out.
Do not use your mobile phone to call family members or emergency services, as the time it takes to operate the phone will cut your chances of survival significantly.
Open a window, if possible, by using the metal parts of the headrest to break it open. If the windows cannot be opened, exit the vehicle through a door, but be aware that this will lead to an increased rate of sinking.
Once out of the vehicle, assess whether it would be safe to swim for dry land. If the vehicle is in shallow water and still floating, you could get on the roof and wait for help.
Do not try to save anything from the vehicle, such as money, electronics, or other valuables.
What to Do If You Witness a Vehicle Sinking ¶
Call an emergency rescue service immediately.
Depending on how close you are to the vehicle and the surroundings, try to pull the floating vehicle closer with the aim of getting the passengers out.
In case passengers cannot open the doors or windows, get a heavy object such as a stone and use it to break the window.
Further action to be taken should depend on the surrounding of the vehicle and the level of competency of the rescuers.
