Diver trapped in air pocket for 35 hours recounts terrifying ordeal

Being stuck in a pitch black 'air pocket' for 35 hours is just about anyone's idea of hell, yet one unfortunate diver suffered through it and came out the other side, recounting the 'terrifying' incident that ended in unlikely rescue.

Sea expeditions can be incredibly dangerous, as even otherwise safe commercial cruises can provide passengers with scary moments they won't soon forget, and you only have to look as far as the OceanGate tragedy to become thalassophobic.

Lucianna Galetta found herself trapped alongside at least 35 other passengers upon the Sea Story dive vessel after it sank, with most trapped in a tiny room that had no light as they awaited rescue teams.

She has recounted the horrifying events of the 35 hours she spent trapped on board the ship to the BBC, and it's a tale that's terrifying and indicative perhaps of wider irresponsible management.

The Sea Story tourist diving boat capsized during the night, leaving some trapped on board for over 35 hours awaiting rescue (Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In the moments following the ship's accident, Luciana and her partner Christopher attempted to find some life jackets, but this delay nearly cost them their lives:

"We started to get up and tried to find the life jackets, we opened the door but there was already water in the corridor. I think we panicked as we jumped in and almost drowned."

Thankfully they found themselves to an air pocket in the engine room, situated to the rear of the boat, but the cramped space was where they would be stuck alongside dive instructor Youssef al-Faramawy for the next 35 hours.

What was perhaps most horrifying for the trio was that they heard the rescue helicopter coming for passengers trapped in other parts of the boat, but it completely passed them over.

Upon hearing the helicopter Luciana details that they were "very happy," but little did they know that it would still be another 27 hours before it would reach them, as "no-one tried to see if there was someone alive" where they were.

"I was so ready to die," Luciana expressed. "We didn't think that someone would come."

Eventually they were rescued - by Youssef's uncle no less - but there were concerns about how the recovery process was carried out.

"We waited 35 hours," Luciana began to wonder, "I don't understand how there are no divers on the Egyptian military boats."

BBC investigations revealed that while the boat itself sank somewhere between 2 AM and 3 AM, distress signals were not received by local authorities until around 5:30 AM - and that several hour delay might well have cost the lives of those weren't rescued in time.

Officials claim that high waves caused the boat to sink, but many passengers aren't convinced and remain in search of answers (Laith Al-jnaidi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

There are also concerns from passengers that the supposed official cause of the accident - which authorities claim was instigated by waves stretching beyond 4 meters - doesn't add up, as many report that the waves were small enough that they could swim in the sea.

Luciana details that while they were "lucky to be alive," she wants the families of those who didn't make it out to be able to grieve, and that will only happen once the situation is actually explained.