A pirate-themed vessel, the “Big Boss Diamond,” carrying nearly 150 individuals, including British tourists, sank off the coast of Paradise Island in the Mediterranean on May 29. Approximately 148 passengers were aboard the ship when the incident occurred.
Video footage shared on social media depicted passengers jumping off the sinking boat, with some clinging to the vessel, including 20 children. The boat started taking on water in Akvaryum Bay and eventually sank within an hour, leaving only its masts and rigging visible in the clear blue water.
Rescue teams swiftly responded to the emergency, successfully evacuating all passengers to safety ashore. A British passenger expressed relief at surviving the ordeal, emphasizing gratitude for being alive.
According to a statement from the Muğla Governorship, all passengers were safely rescued with no reported casualties, injuries, or health issues. The boat, known as the largest pirate ship in Turkey and dubbed a “family party boat,” offers leisure trips around various Turkish islands, providing unlimited alcoholic beverages for a fee of £35.
The boat operator reassured concerned guests and friends via Instagram, confirming everyone’s safety and announcing plans to continue boat trips with another vessel, the Big Boss Yagna. The cause of the sinking remains uncertain, although some passengers suggested that the boat’s engine may have caught fire.