Xinhua Jianli June 6 Reuters new media (reporters Huang yan Shen 翀 Cao Bin) and Xie Yong Hu Jianyue (not his real name) home a distance of approximately more than 200 kilometres away, one in Shanghai and one in Zhenjiang. Their age, a 56-year old, a 63-year old. 56 years, or no intersections, or had passed.

On May 28, they set off from Shanghai, Zhenjiang, respectively, arrived in Nanjing five horse ferry Wharf, boarded the ship reads "Orient Star" four word cruise began on both longing for many years against the river journey.

Accidents of fate, landed on the ship, also fall upon them.

According to the memories of two people, 5 days before the cruise, and they don't know each other, not spoken. On June 1 around 9:30 P.M. shocked the world cruise ship capsized, their lives intertwined.

　　Overturning moment

Hu Jianyue, lived in "Orient Star" third class in room 105 on the left side, and a couple older than his older couple and the other three men were roommates.

After dinner, called affinity sister home for the mother, talked about his impression of Wuhan. "Wuhan Jiang Tan like the Bund, is my best impression of the place. I also had the yellow crane Tower, through cities of the Yangtze River are magnificent. ”

Because the room is very hot, he plans on the third floor deck, blowing a cool. Found in the rain, went down to the lobby on the third floor to see people playing mahjong.

Xie Yong husband and wife, and a mother from Wuxi, live in the coach room 429. Blowing rain outside, Xie Yong came back from the laundry outside to dry.

According to Xie Yong introduction, the incident occurred, he stood at the door of the room, the glass on the coffee table, he went to help, but did not hold. Soon, he was "dumped" on the walls, aluminum and glass of Windows friction collision, issued a harsh sound of terror, followed by "a unit like a fire hose out of the water, rushing over on my back. ”

"When I looked up, saw the ' day '. "Xie Yong said.

On this side, "mahjong on the table suddenly starts, follow the table began to fall down. "Hu Jianyue said too fast! He was unprepared, was accidentally thrown out into the water.

In the presence of water, head out of the water, he was lucky to catch a fluorescent ring.

Xie Yong was washed out the window, struggling in the water, a few makes my mouth water. He said: "I was very calm, thinking about the water, get out of the boat, can't be brought down by it. ”

Xie Yong not as lucky as Hu Jianyue, not "happen to" grab a life preserver. He had to fast walk along the water to the right and left hull.

Catch the life preserver Hu Jianyue, rope into the ring in the arm, down the drain. I do not know how much time he has found a life preserver, caught, set into the body from scratch, continues to drift, cried several voices in the dark of the night for "help".

"From out of the water, I heard some shouting for help, it was not. "Hu Jianyue said.

Wearing only shorts, hand on her watch, Xie Yong struggled to swim in the water.

Swimming swimming, he found a glowing fluorescent buoy in front, he swam past.

　　A floating

"I float float, suddenly a hand in my life preserver on. "Hu Jianyue signs the situation with reporters. "First, is personal! At that time was very nervous, I think he was very nervous, I'm afraid he took my life preserver, did not speak. ”

"In that case, a life buoy, two people with enough? If the other side does not give, grab is dangerous, I don't talk. "Xie Yong said.

Two silent, were thrown a life buoy, and continued to drift down.

Xie Yong worried about a life preserver will not bear the weight of two people, his feet kept paddling. After a while, he saw the first floats, but missed it. And I don't know how long, see the second floating debris.

"Was the ship plastic barrels similar to wash mops, is larger. I hurried to catch. "Hu Jianyue plastic buckets in the foot, continued to swim.

On the River, come and go a lot of vessels. Their ships desperately crying for help, but was too far away, but no response.

"For a long time, both of us are tired of breath. "Xie Yong said. Rest for a while, he said to Hu Jianyue "we took turns shouting, you two, I called twice, I cried. ”

Xie Yong memory after about a minute, they drift into a "thing". His head is clear, caught it, "I hold, shake shake still, which I better, we hope."

"About two meters high, we want to climb, but the slope is too steep. "Xie Yong said.

Later, they learned from marine police, the "square" is the navigation in the channel.

Brothers hold the marker lights, two people knock it, crying for help.

Rain is still falling, but small, see the boats on the River, they tried to call for help. A ship near ship's lights shine on them. Through light spotted Xie Yong Hu Jianyue, "about a 60 year old man".

"We call for help, but the boat, may not see us. "Hu Jianyue said, we cheer each other and call each other hold. After a while, a ship of lights shine on them, "shouting".

"People seem to see us on the boat! We are tapping the side shouting for help. "Hu Jianyue memories.

"But people who saw the boat on the phone, I guess it is the police. "Hu Jianyue, told reporters.

Again with Miss chance of being saved, "the brothers" are somewhat disappointing. Hu Jianyue thought for a moment, still have a chance, they continued to encourage each other, "hold on".

According to Hu Jianyue memories, took more than 20 minutes, came a marine ship.

Drifted for about 3 hours with two brothers, were rescued by marine police boats.

　　Rescuers saved

A Shanghai police blanket escaped "brothers" sit down and talk, shocked to remember just what happened.

"You're my first benefactor, the coast guard is my second rescuer. "Xie Yong Hu Jianyue said.

"The Shanghai kid, surnamed Hu, was calm! I first thought it was a buoy, and he circles the waist. "Xie Yong said.

Experience began to review before I met two people, and promised to keep in touch.

Hu Jianyue single so far, this is one travel. "Friends told me, inverse line is particularly good on the River, but encountered such a thing. "He said he was lucky to walk but so many passengers were killed, was hurt.

Wife sank in has ship in of Xie Yong said: "1982 with wife married, 34 years has......" he stopped has later, "so big of disaster, more than 400 multiple family, some a several mouth are didn't has, that 3 age 7 months of small girl, special cute, small nose Alice Alice of, in ship Shang days bounce, is lively, also didn't has......"

Xie Yong sobbed, said without words. [Editor: Liu Xuyao]