SURVIVOR of the ill-fated Chris-Ann-V, Elbert Jack Jnr, has vowed to ensure that he protects himself the next time he has cause to go to sea. Though not entirely sure if he will ever again venture on such a journey, the young man has decided that his safety will be top priority. Jack explained that he, along with another survivor,  Deochand Massidas, were each saved by life rings. He added that they drifted apart but later were able to get close to each other and they tied the life saving devices together, and together stayed afloat after the vessel sank on Wednesday evening.
He explained that he and his fellow seaman kept each other’s company throughout their floating in the Atlantic. He added that he eventually fell asleep in the early hours of Saturday morning and when he woke up, his partner was nowhere in sight.
Media reports had stated that the man who was holding on to the same rings had drowned.
Jack was rescued on Saturday morning, however, Massidas had to spend yet another night on a lonely beach coast before he was rescued on Sunday.
Jack repeated what was already mentioned by his fellow survivors and that is, that the engine of the boat failed and attempts to retrieve a pump from the barge that was being towed caused it to slam into the vessel causing disaster at sea.
Jack explained that he was one of the men accompanying the excavator to an interior location. He has regrets joining the vessel but was only made aware of its deficiencies when he was already miles out at sea.
Asked what initiated the topic of the sea-worthiness of the vessel, he explained that the vessel had several mechanical problems along the journey. He said that the radiator of the engine burst.
“After I hear that the vessel is an old one, I just had to pray to meet where I going safe, but that did not happen. I just hoping for the rest to be alive, because it’s nothing nice being out there.”
He said that the initial reaction to the water that began entering the vessel was trying to get it out. According to him, after he realised that the water began to rise in the vessel, he informed the other crewmen that the vessel will eventually sink, but he was not taken seriously.
He added that he plunged into the ocean when the tug had almost gone under.
It was at that time that he let go of his travelling bag and decided that at that moment the life ring would be the best thing to cling to.
He explained that the boat went down in almost one minute; he knew that once he had a hold on the life ring, that he would have been spotted by someone. He            however never expected to be in the water so long at the mercy of the elements.
Jack stated that he and Massidas were unable to determine in what direction they should try to go as the high winds and rough waters were totally in control of their movement in the water for most of the time. He added that it was when they reached calm waters that they tried desperately to move themselves closer to the coastland.
Meanwhile, Jack is thankful for the many persons who prayed and offered assistance to ensure that the crew was safe. He made special mention of Minister Robeson Benn and captain Jerry Gouviea.
After being rescued, Elbert Jack was taken to the hospital at Mabaruma where he received medical attention overnight before being flown to the city on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, last evening, Harbour Master Volton Skeete explained to the Guyana Chronicle that search teams are continuously combing the areas for the two crewmen unaccounted for.