More than two years after the Costa Concordia, an Italian cruise liner, sank off the Isla Di Giglio, a determined man still holds on to the hope of bringing his brother’s remains home for a proper Christian burial. Russel Rebello (33), a native of Nallasopara in the Thane district, was working as a waiter aboard the Costa Concordia and is the only Indian victim whose remains have still not been found. The 290-meter long cruise liner rammed into the rocks off the island of Giglio, a popular holiday destination, on the night of January 13, 2012. It was carrying a total of 4229 people, passengers and crew included, out of which 32 lost their lives. For the last two years and eight months, Russel’s brother Kevin has been making regular trips to Giglio as one of the largest search and salvage operations in maritime history continues. “In July this year, the hull of the cruise liner was towed to a port in Genoa, where it now lies partly submerged. I visited Genoa late in August and had a meeting with the coast guard there, who explained to me that the hull will first be stripped of all metal parts to reduce its weight. This will enable the authorities to pull it up into the dry port, after the search for Russel’s remains will continue,” Kevin told Newsline, speaking on the phone from Milan, where he stays and works. Eye witness accounts that Kevin has painstakingly gathered by speaking to survivors of the tragedy indicate that Russel died a hero. He was seen helping people reach the lifeboats by several of the liner’s passengers, and Russel even gave one of them his own life jacket. Russel’s last confirmed sighting was when he was seen heading towards the restaurant area of the ship. Everyone who saw him that night believes he was going there to see if anyone else needed help. For Kevin, the two years and eight months have been frustrating, as time and again he has had to see bodies and skeletal remains being pulled out of the wreckage and has had to wait for DNA tests, only to be told that Russel was not among them. In April 2012, Kevin had left Giglio after spending four months on the island, as his therapist told him that it was advisable to take a break. However, less than a week after his return to Milan, he received word that five more bodies had been found in the wreckage. He rushed back to the island and spent 48 hours in anticipation, but DNA tests indicated that Russel was still missing. An emotionally drained Kevin left the island the same day, for the first time not waiting to ask whose bodies they were or to speak to the families of the victims. He, however, returned shortly after and has still not given up hope. “I think it is my inherent positive attitude that keeps me going, along with the promise I have made to myself to bring my brother home for a proper burial. However, it is a fact that the experience has made me a lot stronger as a person than I was earlier,” he said. Early in August, the divers in Genoa also found a cranium and an arm. However, Kevin refuses to let his hopes soar this time. “I am told that the shape and the structure of the cranium indicate that it belongs to a woman. I am waiting for the DNA test results,” he said. Meanwhile, back home, Russel’s son Rhys has turned five years old. His family still does not refer to Russel too often, for fear that Rhys might ask too many questions. “We will tell Rhys about his father when he is old enough,” Kevin said. gautam.mengle@expressindia.com
