'Went For Lunch, Boat Overturned In A Flash': Tamil Nadu Survivor Recalls Vietnam Nightmare

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Last Updated:July 11, 2026, 20:57 IST

Nirmal Kumar, a resident of Tamil Nadu's Palani, recalled how several tourists were trapped inside the boat after it overturned near Vietnam's Phu Quac Island.

An Indian tourist, who was rescued from a speedboat that capsized, receives treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc. (AP)

An Indian tourist, who was rescued from a speedboat that capsized, receives treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc. (AP)

After a boat accident led to the deaths of 15 Indian tourists near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, a survivor recalled the tragic incident and the frantic efforts of others who tried to escape with their lives after the speedboat overturned in the sea.

Nirmal Kumar, a resident of Tamil Nadu’s Palani, was among the survivors of the Vietnam boat tragedy. He told news agency PTI that 15 people lost their lives in the incident, two are in critical condition, and the remaining survivors were undergoing medical treatment.

Kumar recounted the nightmare, saying the group of 39 passengers had set out for lunch on the boat when it overturned within seconds due to high waves and possible overloading. He said 20 people managed to escape, while 15 were trapped inside the boat.

After the Vietnam Coast Guard were alerted, rescue teams arrived promptly and rescued 21 survivors, including three crew members and an attendant. However, 15 tourists – two women and 13 men – died in the incident.

STORY | Vietnam boat capsize: Two people from Andhra killed, 3 others hospitalisedTwo people from Andhra Pradesh were killed and three others from the state were hospitalised in Vietnam following a tourist boat capsize near Phu Quoc Island, sources in the Andhra Pradesh… pic.twitter.com/FBYOndikWG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2026

Among the survivors were 17 passengers and all four crew members. Authorities said all 36 people on board have been accounted for, though two survivors remain in critical condition.

Indian Embassy Releases Names

The Indian Embassy in Vietnam released the list of 15 tourists who lost their lives in the tragic boat accident near Phu Quac Island. Among those killed were 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala, according to the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.

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Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int...Read More

News world 'Went For Lunch, Boat Overturned In A Flash': Tamil Nadu Survivor Recalls Vietnam Nightmare

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