3rd survivor freed from wrecked cruise ship

Last Updated 7:56 A.M. ET

GIGLIO, Italy (AP) — A helicopter on Sunday airlifted a third survivor from the capsized hulk of a luxury cruise ship 36 hours after it ran aground off the Italian coast, as prosecutors confirmed they were investigating the captain for manslaughter charges and abandoning the ship.

Authorities reduced to 17 the number of people still unaccounted for, as an Italian who worked in cabin service was pulled from the wreckage of the Costa Concordia. He was the third survivor to be found, after a South Korean couple on their honeymoon were rescued late Saturday in the unsubmerged part of the ship when firefighters heard their screams. They were hoisted to safety Sunday afternoon by helicopter.

Three people are confirmed dead after the huge cruise ship carrying more than 4,200 people ran aground on Friday night.

Asked Sunday by Sky Italia TV about allegations that the captain had left the ship before the last passenger had been rescued, Grosseto prosecutor Francesco Verusio replied, "Unfortunately I must confirm that circumstance."

Italian officials have lowered the number of people still unaccounted for to 17. Tuscany's regional president Enrico Rossi said that there were now six crew members and 11 passengers who haven't been located out of the 4,200-plus people who were aboard the Costa Concordia when it struck a reef and capsized Friday night.

Police divers and rescue crews on Sunday circled around the wreckage of ship off the coast of the island of Giglio. Crews in dinghies were touching the hull with their hands, near the site of the 160-foot-long gash where water flooded in and caused the ship to fall on its side.

Coast guard officials have said divers will try to enter the belly of the ship in case anyone is still inside.

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Luxury cruise ship runs aground

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Coast guard spokesman Capt. Filippo Marini told Sky Italia TV that Coast Guard divers have recovered the so-called "black box" with the recording of the navigational details from a compartment now under water.

Late Saturday, firefighters who had been searching the Costa Concordia for those who remain missing heard distinct shouts, "one in a male voice, the other in a female voice" coming from the cruiser liner, Coast guard officer Marcello Fertitta said.

They turned out to be a honeymooning South Korean couple, who were brought out in good condition, Prato fire Cmdr. Vincenzo Bennardo told The Associated Press from the scene.

The terrifying, chaotic escape from the luxury liner was straight out of a scene from "Titanic" for many of the 4,000-plus passengers and crew on the ship, which ran aground off the Italian coast late Friday and flipped on its side.

Cruise ship runs aground off Italy, 3 dead
Fact sheet: The Costa Concordia cruise liner

Many passengers complained the crew didn't give them good directions on how to evacuate and once the emergency became clear, delayed lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many to be released.

Several other passengers said crew members told passengers for 45 minutes that there was a simple "technical problem" that had caused the lights to go off.

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[Flowertour]

I took a Celtic Nations cruise with Holland America in Seotember 2010. When rounding the upper tip of Scotland we ran into hurricane force winds which resulted in 40+ windows broken, table ware "flying" in the dining room, waves crashing onto the 8th floor deck, bow scared and dented. The captain advised us all of the sutuation and told us he was heading out to sea where the ship could be better managed thus avoiding the shore which would have driven the ship onto ports, rocks, etc. We weathered the storm and the port we came into after the storm also opened their hearts to us.The crew was fabulous, kept us all calm, freely gave info (we could see launching iof lifeboats was impossible given the condition of the sea). We cannot give enough praise to the crew and captain iof the ship for their competence and composure. It is way too bad that these are the unsung heros while the other's errors seem to gain the most publicity. My hat off to Holland America which may seem stodgy (minimal glitz or glamor) but VERY competent when at sea which is what cruising is all about!

[Flowertour]

BTW in every HAL cruise I have taken (5) we have always had an evacuation drill within 24 hours post embarkation where attendance is taken for EVERY cabin!!!

[Cocogrrrlll]

Is it correct that they didn't have any safety drills and one was scheduled a full week after they were sailing? That right there should be grounds for huge lawsuit. They set sail the 7th!

[tx-wheels]

If the Captain abandoned ship, leaving behind passengers under his care and protection, he needs to executed by public hanging!

[green_blue]

Nature and the Laws of Physics will always be in charge when humans make mistakes, kscems911.

It is truly heartwarming to see that the people of this Giglio helped save so many lives without expecting anything in return. Something you do not see much of these days in the World......

[kscems911]

In spite of all the technology and safety features build into modern machines it's humbling to be reminded that nature is in charge. They found that out the hard way in 1912 and again yesterday.