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British couple seek two million euros in damages after Concordia disaster
A British couple who survived the Costa Concordia disaster in 2012 are seeking damages of €1 million each for post-traumatic stress.
Mandy and John Rodford, from Rochester, were celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary on the ship, which sank off the Tuscan coast killing 32 people.
Giving evidence this week at the trial of the ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, the couple said due to the disaster they have been listed in court documents as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to the Telegraph, Mr Rodford said the ship’s owners, Costa Crociere, had not provided passengers with information on how to evacuate the ship as the emergency drill was planned for the following day.
“It’s difficult to think that the firm is still trading while we, after two and a half years, still don’t sleep," he said.
The cruise company has already paid a €1 million fine and is offering compensation to passengers.
But one Italian passenger, who gave evidence at the trial earlier this week, told the court he had been offered €17,000 in compensation and considered it “laughable”.
Schettino is accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship, but has blamed poor quality maps and a second official for ignoring his instructions.
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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