Brother keeps hope alive as cruise search is halted

Stringer/Italy / Reuters

Kevin Rebello, brother of Indian citizen Russel Rebello, who worked as a waiter on the Costa Concordia and is still missing, walks in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy on Wednesday.

GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy – Moving along the harbor wall, in the shadow of the half-submerged Costa Concordia, Kevin Rebello told me he still has hope that his brother Russel Rebello will be found safe and sound, five days after the cruise liner hit a rock and capsized off the Tuscan coast. “I am 100 percent sure,” Kevin said.

The two brothers hail from Bombay, India, but Russel was working as a waiter on the ship. He was last seen helping passengers off the crashed vessel. He had no life jacket and was working with other crew members to lower rescue boats.

It's an optimistic view of survival that is not shared by many on this island. Nobody has been pulled alive since Sunday and today is expected to bring a shift in efforts – from rescue to salvage.


Russel’s name appears on Italian authorities list of 28 passengers, including four crew members, still missing. More than 4,200 people were aboard the ship when the accident happened. So far, officials have confirmed 11 dead.

The Costa Concordia has 500,000 gallons of fuel which could take weeks to remove. But for the moment little can be done. Overnight the vessel moved slightly and divers had to be pulled off for their own safety. So far they have not been back.

Rough seas delay efforts to find more survivors aboard the cruise ship that capsized Friday night off the coast of Italy. NBC's Duncan Golestani reports from Giglio, Italy.

On Tuesday divers blasted holes in the hull to gain access to parts of the ship that have so far remained blocked. Five bodies were removed. As Kevin is no doubt aware, they had life jackets on and it's unlikely they were crew members; they have not been identified yet.

The lack of progress in the last 24 hours is certainly not due to lack of effort. Earlier, one of the search commanders was treated after collapsing from exhaustion and in the cafeterias and make-shift rest areas the tiredness shows on the faces of the rescue workers.

So now everyone here is waiting. For the next stage in the salvage effort or the possibility of an incoming storm that could bring six-foot waves and further disrupt things. For Kevin – he is waiting for any news about his brother at all.

DigitalGlobe

The Costa Concordia ran aground Jan. 13 off the coast of Italy, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of passengers as the ship began heavily listing.

Helping him stay positive is the knowledge that his brother's last known actions were helping others. “I am very proud of him,” he said. “That's the most important thing. The crew are the real heroes.”

Related link: Concordia reportedly took ill-fated route before
Check msnbc.com's Overhead Bin for full coverage of the cruise ship accident

Discuss this post

Mr. Rebello should be proud of his brother! Sounds like his brother did 200% more than the captain and first officer even considered doing. Hope he is found safe and sound.

  • 9 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:18 PM EST

I agree....his brother did a yeoman's job....hope he is miraculously found alive...stranger things have happened in rescue situations....must always have hope & stay strong....

  • 4 votes
#1.1 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:55 PM EST
Reply

What this captain did would be like a 747 captain dropping down to fly below the rim of the Grand Canyon. Just incredibly stupid.

  • 6 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:27 PM EST

And then parachuting out just before hitting the wall.

  • 4 votes
#2.2 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:21 PM EST

Just the facts, the other crewmen had to do what the captain said and had to follow the course he told them. He and he alone bears responsibility for the accident and he bears responsibility for the lack of training of the crewmembers to properly handle the evacuation.

A captain is IN COMMAND of his/her vessel. The buck stops with him/her.

  • 4 votes
#2.3 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:13 PM EST
Reply

i just pray that mr russel rebello is found soon. may god bless every effort that he divers are doing to find any other person on that ship

  • 6 votes
Reply#3 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:36 PM EST

Remind me not to take a sea cruise with this cruise line if their Captains are like this one!

  • 1 vote
Reply#4 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:56 PM EST

The Captain has a history. The Cruise Line must also be held responsible for not firing him before this! The Airlines do not give pilots all the chances that the Cruise line gave to the Captain. His past must be evaluated and eye witness reports of his competency.

  • 1 vote
Reply#5 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:11 PM EST
Comment author avatarLingo Upthegrovevia FacebookExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

The captain the coward needs his dick cut off an sewn in his mouth to keep it closed.

    Reply#6 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:12 PM EST

    Lingo, while probably everyone shares your sentiment, please have the respect for other readers to not use such vulgar language. Thank you.

    • 3 votes
    #6.1 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:18 PM EST
    Reply

    Russel Rebello is a hero.

    • 3 votes
    Reply#7 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:15 PM EST

    Good luck to the brothers!!!

    • 3 votes
    Reply#8 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:34 PM EST

    Dear Mr. Kevin Rebello,

    I haven't the pleasure of knowing you or your brother, but I have been touched by your story. You will never see this post but I felt it necessary to say that your devotion to you brother is to be commended. And the actions your brother took in the face of what must have been a very harrowing time, also shine as example of a fine human being. It is my sincerest wish that you are reunited with your brother. My thoughts are with you, your brother and your famiy.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#9 - Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:05 AM EST

    no you dont understand,there was water under there

      Reply#10 - Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:42 AM EST

      Mr. Rebello, I pray that your brother will be found. Your story touched my heart, and I am certain that your brother would be proud to know of your love and devotion to him. Russel sounds like a wonderful human being.

      I can't begin to imagine what you are going through right now, but I hope that God will comfort you during this awful time.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#11 - Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:39 AM EST
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