FED:Christmas Is survivors get specialist care

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2010
FED:Christmas Is survivors get specialist care

Eds: reissuing to amend headline



CANBERRA, Dec 19 AAP - Survivors of last week's fatal Christmas Island boat accident
are receiving specialist care as they come to grips with the tragedy, immigration officials
say.

Thirty people, including 13 men, nine women, four children and four babies, perished
when their wooden boat struck rocks and broke apart in heavy seas early on Wednesday morning.

Immigration Department spokesman Peter Richards said the agency was focused on caring
for the accident's 42 survivors.

"It's a very difficult time for the survivors but for also other people within the
detention facilities," he told reporters on Christmas Island on Sunday.

"There are a number that we've identified, for example, that have relatives amongst
this group (of deceased)."

Mr Richards said five of the six survivors taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment
had been discharged and were now in immigration detention in Western Australia.

A private memorial service organised by representatives from the survivors group, in
conjunction with a local Christmas Island imam, will take place later this afternoon.

Australian Federal Police Superintendent Gavan Ryan said the process of interviewing
survivors was under way.

"Part of that process is to take survivors to the hospital to visually identify the
deceased to comply with West Australian coroner standards," he said, adding that 15 people
had been formally identified so far.

AAP bsb/cdh

KEYWORD: BOAT CAPSIZE SURVIVOR (REISSUING)

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