Workers find body of last missing victim while dismantling Costa Concordia

Russel Rebello, the final victim to be recovered from the Costa Concordia disaster, will receive a “hero’s welcome” when his body is returned home to India, his brother said Monday.

Salvage workers from Ship Recycling, the consortium dismantling the Concordia, said they found the remains believed to be of Mr Rebello, a 32-year-old waiter from Mumbai, inside a cabin on the ship’s eighth deck in Genoa.

A spokeswoman for Ship Recycling, the consortium breaking the ship at a yard in Genoa, told the Guardian that on Monday morning “human remains were found that are presumed to be those of Mr Rebello”. She said the remains were discovered in a cabin on the eighth deck of the giant liner. “All work on the ship came to a halt and the authorities are now carrying the necessary procedures.”

Workers found his badly decomposed body crushed beneath overturned furniture with an identity card including his name and photograph in his trousers. They notified Genoa prosecutors who ordered DNA tests to be conducted.

The surprise discovery ends a heart-wrenching search by Mr Rebello’s brother Kevin, who spent four months on Giglio after the Concordia struck rocks near the island off the coast of Tuscany in January 13 2012.

Mr Rebello was among the 32 passengers and crew who lost their lives after the Concordia’s captain, Francesco Schettino, attempted to perform a “salute” in front of the island. The 114,000-ton liner struck a reef in shallow waters and capsized just off shore from the island’s tiny port. Kevin Rebello, who runs a natural therapy business in Milan, said after 1,025 days of waiting his parents would breathe a “sigh of relief” hearing the news.

“Their constant prayers have been heard,” said Mr Rebello, whose family is Catholic with a Goan background. “Now we wait for the DNA test and procedures to give Russel his final resting place with honour, respect and a hero’s welcome. India we are coming.”

Russel Rebello is understood to have died after giving his life jacket to another passenger and helping terrified passengers into life boats. He was the last victim to be found. The remains of Italian passenger Maria Grazia Trecarichi, were found in October 2013 just three weeks after the massive liner was pulled upright in an unprecedented salvage operation.

In July this year the ship was towed away by tug boats in another dramatic exercise and is now moored in Genoa's port, where it is being dismantled.

Schettino is facing charges of multiple manslaughter and dereliction of duty and could face up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty. He is due to appear in court again in December.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11205374/Costa-Concordia-body-of-final-victim-found-on-board.html