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American Tourist, 24, Describes Moment She Survived Sinking Ferry by Smashing Window: 'Didn't Even Think Twice'
A boat in Bali capsized this week while carrying 89 passengers — many of whom were tourists
On Wednesday, June 4, a wave struck the back of a ferry off the island of Nusa Lembongan and caused it to capsize, per multiple outlets
Lauren Dague, an American passenger onboard, told Good Morning America that it "felt like five minutes that it took for the entire boat to sink," after she broke through a windowA ferry carrying dozens of tourists capsized in Bali this week, and one American onboard is now reflecting on her experience breaking a window to get herself and others to safety.
On Wednesday, June 4, a wave struck the back of a boat off the island of Nusa Lembongan, according to reporting by the Associated Press, NBC News and The incident took place around 4:30 p.m. local time.
Local police told NBC that the wave caused the ship to "tilt to the left and lose balance." Per AP, the boat — named The Tanis — featured 125 seats and was carrying 89 tourists and crew when it departed from the island and began sinking.
Footage of the boat sinking, shared by multiple outlets, shows passengers break through glass, the cabin filling with water and the boat itself tipping over as passengers were rescued by locals.
Lauren Dague, who visited Bali to celebrate her 24th birthday, broke through a window with her foot to escape.
"There [were] babies, small children, old people. It felt like five minutes that it took for the entire boat to sink," Dague told Good Morning America in an interview that aired on Friday, June 6. "I just smashed the window with my foot. I didn't even think twice about it. And I know for a fact I saved at least three to five, six other people with my decision."
"People were just throwing themselves, just jumping across to the other boat," she added. "There [were] people in the water between the boats and could have easily gotten smushed."
She also spoke to NBC, saying, "everyone was panicking" amid the tragedy.
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Klungklung Police spokesperson AKP Agus Widiono said, per the AP, that the boat was completely evacuated by 6:30 p.m. local time and no casualties were reported.
'"The Tanis was headed for Lembongan-Sanur Port. It was carrying four crew members and a captain, and 89 tourists. We have dispatched divers to ensure no one was trapped on the boat or on the seabed," the spokesperson said at the time. "Currently, two foreign passengers have departed for Sanur Port and the rest are staying in Nusa Lembongan."
According to 77 of the ferry's passengers were foreigners and 12 were Indonesian. Nicola Wood, a tourist from Australia who was traveling with her husband and two children recalled most people being "back on shore before life raft and life jackets were thrown out," as local boats came to the rescue, per the AP.
"We made it out, jumped into the water and swam to a nearby glass-bottom boat that took us back to shore," she said at the time. "Luggage is still washing up and being collected by Tanis staff."
Another Australian traveler, Megan Hughes, also recalled to 7News smashing through a window. She said she "didn't quite realize what was going on" since she was wearing headphones, but soon heard the "screams" and saw "water up to the seats."
'Glass was going everywhere. Kids were screaming," she said. "People who couldn't swim as well were screaming and grabbing any life jacket they could find. We were scrambling over each other to get out the window.'
Dague told NBC that while she's now dealing with bruises and stitches, she's thankful to be have survived the ordeal.
"I really did think that I was gonna die for a second," she said. "But I'm really glad, and pretty sure, that everybody's okay."
Read the original article on People
