Life goes on for Rabaul Queen disaster survivors

By LARRY ANDREW
LIFE goes on for two survivors of the MV Rabaul Queen disaster nine years ago, as they think back to that fateful morning of Feb 2, 2012 in seas off Finschaffen, Morobe.
Grace Kunsei, 27, and Jeremy Mondo, 26, were among the 200-plus passengers on the vessel on their way to Lae from Kimbe.
A huge wave hit the ship at around 6am, forcing it to sink.
The disaster in which 172 people died was the subject of a court inquiry.
Kunsei, now married with two children, told The National that what happened that morning was still fresh in her mind.
“It’s like it just happened yesterday,” she said.
“Life is alright now as I’ve coped up with it in the past nine years.
“I’m married.
“My son Philip is now six years old and my daughter Kennisha four years,” she said.
She thanked her family for the support they had showed her and her sister Amethyst.
“I still have chest pain due to drinking the spilled oil from the ship. I have a broken leg and can only do light work around the house,” Kunsei said
In 2016, she and other survivors flew to Kokopo for the court hearing on the case.
Mondo was returning to Lae after the school holidays.
He continued with his education while living at care centres.
“I attended Lae Secondary School but didn’t continue to Grade 11 as I was traumatised,” he said.
“I could not hear properly in the classroom.”
He later enrolled at the International Training Institute and got a job.
“Straight after the incident, life was a bit tough but it had built me to be strong and make tough decisions that has guided me to be where I am,” he said.
“It taught me many lessons. Life goes on for me.
“My advice to fellow survivors is that such incidents happen to teach us some lessons and not to take life for granted.”