A diverted ferry, then trapped by the swell. A pregnant woman being airlifted in the middle of a storm. And a car that crashes into harbor waters, killing one.
The Mega Andrea de la Corsica Ferries experienced a chaotic night from Monday to Tuesday, which will long be remembered by passengers leaving Toulon and witnesses in Bastia. Here is what we know about these extraordinary events.
The baby’s parents were finally able to reach L’Archet hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Photo archives Eric Ottino.
How is the baby of the airlifted passenger?
“The baby is in stable condition.” The new arrivals from L’Archet hospital in Nice are reassuring. Early Tuesday morning, teams from the neonatal medicine and resuscitation unit welcomed a newborn, brought by helicopter from Bastia. Their Corsican colleagues had informed them of the epic conditions of her birth, after the helicopter winching of the future mother, 32, from the bridge of Mega Andrea.
“His state of health required hospitalization even if a child born at 7 and a half months of pregnancy is not considered very premature”, explains Dr Sergio Eleni dit Trolli, head of the Nice unit. It is the only one authorized on the territory to take care of very premature babies. As a general rule, the conditions of childbirth – particularly difficult in this case – are decisive for the state of health of the child.
If it was therefore stabilized, the L’Archet teams were impatiently awaiting the arrival of the parents at the bedside of the baby. This was finally the case on Wednesday afternoon. The day before, the mother had not been able to embark with her child. According to Dr. Eleni dit Trolli, “Scientific studies have shown that the prognosis of premature babies is closely correlated to the presence of parents at their side.”
Is such help exceptional?
Yes, believes the Nice specialist. Dr. Eleni dit Trolli salutes the heroic action of the relief workers. “A preterm delivery, outside maternity, is extremely dangerous. In this case, it could have had a dramatic outcome for the baby.”
The professionalism and composure of Christophe Sauli, the civil security pilot, were invaluable. Faced with a wind blowing at nearly 100 km / h, he set a course for the ferry, to position himself just above. The operation lasted twenty minutes. » That is the extreme limit set. Afterwards, “the mother was great, very brave.”
How were the passengers in the car saved?
Meanwhile, the Mega Andrea finally landed in Bastia. It’s 1 a.m. As soon as you land, a car leaves the path leading to the port exit… and plunges into the waves. “I shouted to try to deflect it. But because of the rain, they didn’t hear me. I was waving. I ran towards the vehicle, but it was already too late…”testifies Florence Croce.
Customs officers carrying out searches in the bereaved port. Photo Philippe Pelletier NMTV / Nice Matin.
This security officer from the Hestia company, quoted by Le Point, dove with Godefroy Monti, agent of the CCI of Corsica, to save the occupants.
“We tried to break the window with our fists, but we didn’t have enough strength. The passengers were panicked. Under the pressure of the water, the trunk finally opened and they were able to get out.” On board, two retired couples from Occitanie. The driver, 70, could not get out of the cabin. “We couldn’t do anything. It was particularly shocking”sighs Florent Croce.
Were the conditions met to dock?
This is the subject of the investigation for “manslaughter” opened by the prosecutor of Bastia. The passengers disembarked after a series of adventures and long hours of waiting punctuated by the swell. However, this port requires a very technical approach. Therefore, regulars wonder.
Just like Jean-Marc (assumed name), landed there three hours earlier from Italy. “We couldn’t see two meters away. There was no signage on the ground, or a panel. The conditions were terrible. It was very complicated and dangerous to get out of the landing stage.”
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