British expat, who lost her husband's ashes on the ship, is among a growing number of people considering suing vessel's owner
A British expat who was on the Costa Concordia is launching legal action against the company that owns the liner, her lawyers have said.
Sandra Rodgers was on board with her adult daughter and seven-year-old twin granddaughters when the ship ran into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island off Giglio last Friday.
Rodgers, who lives in Menorca, was not only separated from her daughter and grandchildren but also lost her late husband's ashes – which she was planning to scatter during the trip – as she attempted to get onto a lifeboat. Rodgers, originally from Caergwrle in Chester, said: "The evacuation of the ship was completely chaotic. There was certainly no 'women and children first' policy. It was disgusting."
She said passengers were told by the crew there was a simple technical problem and instructed to go back to their cabin.
"Thank God we didn't do as they had told us as we may not have made it off the ship alive," she said. "I was standing by the lifeboats and men were banging into me and knocking the girls. And when we finally got into a lifeboat, other passengers and crew were also trying to jump into the boat. I thought 'if they land in here we are going to capsize'."
She said it was only when they reached the shore that they got help, from the islanders, adding: "There were no emergency services and the cruise staff had all disappeared. The people of the island were a godsend."
Rodgers said they had taken the trip to lift their spirits after her husband, Barry, and her father died last year. "We had planned to scatter Barry's ashes when the cruise passed Monaco, because Barry had always wanted to see the Monaco Grand Prix. It's dreadful but his ashes were lost on board the Concordia as well as other family heirlooms from my late mother and father.
"We have lost so many things that are quite literally priceless. The girls are also now too afraid to be left alone. We have all been deeply affected by what has happened and I also injured my arm during the evacuation of the ship and have had to have medical treatment in Menorca."
She is among a number of people being represented by the law firm Irwin Mitchell. Clive Garner, partner and head of the company's international team, said they were continuing to receive inquiries from a growing number of passengers from the UK and abroad.
"They have clearly been through a terrifying and most traumatic experience and one which may have long-lasting effects for them," he said. "With thousands of people on board this huge vessel, the safety of passengers should have been the first and only priority.
"Tragically, our clients confirm that this was not the case and passengers and their families have paid a very heavy price. The running aground of the Costa Concordia was terrible enough, but this was compounded by the woeful management of the evacuation of the vessel."
Costa Cruises has confirmed it is contacting all surviving guests to make sure they have returned home safely and to offer a refund for the cruise and expenses relating to it.