This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/6301581.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Napoli scavenger to return goods | Napoli scavenger to return goods |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man who scavenged the possessions of a Swedish family from the stricken container ship MSC Napoli has pledged to return the booty. | A man who scavenged the possessions of a Swedish family from the stricken container ship MSC Napoli has pledged to return the booty. |
| Michael Wheeler, from Devon, said he regretted taking a china set belonging to Anita and Jan Bokdal, saying he had been "caught up with the atmosphere". | Michael Wheeler, from Devon, said he regretted taking a china set belonging to Anita and Jan Bokdal, saying he had been "caught up with the atmosphere". |
| Mrs Bokdal, who saw her crate raided on TV at Branscombe beach in Devon, said she was glad it would be returned. | Mrs Bokdal, who saw her crate raided on TV at Branscombe beach in Devon, said she was glad it would be returned. |
| Crane barges from the Netherlands will join the salvage operation on Saturday. | Crane barges from the Netherlands will join the salvage operation on Saturday. |
| Map of the area and diagram of MSC Napoli | Map of the area and diagram of MSC Napoli |
| They are expected to help lift the remaining 2,394 containers from the ship, grounded off Sidmouth, east Devon. | |
| Anita Bokdal saw her container being raided on television | Anita Bokdal saw her container being raided on television |
| The 62,000-tonne vessel, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was deliberately run aground following "serious structural failure". | The 62,000-tonne vessel, which was holed in storms on 18 January, was deliberately run aground following "serious structural failure". |
| Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe after 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore. | Hundreds of scavengers descended on the beach at Branscombe after 50 of the ship's containers washed ashore. |
| Mr Wheeler, 27, a builder who lives near the wreck, said it had bordered on a "party atmosphere" as crates were ripped open and goods taken away. | Mr Wheeler, 27, a builder who lives near the wreck, said it had bordered on a "party atmosphere" as crates were ripped open and goods taken away. |
| "People were very excited by what was happening and I think everyone, including myself, got caught up with the moment and the atmosphere," he told BBC News. | "People were very excited by what was happening and I think everyone, including myself, got caught up with the moment and the atmosphere," he told BBC News. |
| He said he opened the Bokdals' crate and took a crockery set from it. | He said he opened the Bokdals' crate and took a crockery set from it. |
| Maritime experts believe structural damage to the Napoli caused it to start 'hogging' The weakened hull causes a ship's bow and stern to sagThe effect is made worse by rough seas | Maritime experts believe structural damage to the Napoli caused it to start 'hogging' The weakened hull causes a ship's bow and stern to sagThe effect is made worse by rough seas |
| "We got home and reflected on what we'd done and realised that perhaps it wasn't the right thing, morally, to be doing. | "We got home and reflected on what we'd done and realised that perhaps it wasn't the right thing, morally, to be doing. |
| "I'd like to apologise to Mrs Bokdal because, had the shoe been on the other foot, it would have been very distressing for me." | "I'd like to apologise to Mrs Bokdal because, had the shoe been on the other foot, it would have been very distressing for me." |
| Mr Wheeler said a national newspaper had intervened and agreed to send the goods on to Cape Town. | Mr Wheeler said a national newspaper had intervened and agreed to send the goods on to Cape Town. |
| Mrs Bokdal, who discovered the fate of her crate when she saw TV pictures of her possessions being raided, accepted the apology. | Mrs Bokdal, who discovered the fate of her crate when she saw TV pictures of her possessions being raided, accepted the apology. |
| "I'm so glad that you have brought the things back," she said. | "I'm so glad that you have brought the things back," she said. |
| Mrs Bokdal, who spends half her time in South Africa, said the container had been full of irreplaceable possessions with huge sentimental value. | Mrs Bokdal, who spends half her time in South Africa, said the container had been full of irreplaceable possessions with huge sentimental value. |
| The vessel has leaked about 200 tonnes of oil into the sea, killing many birds. | The vessel has leaked about 200 tonnes of oil into the sea, killing many birds. |
| The ship's owners say the leaked oil has now been treated and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were satisfied everything possible was being done to prevent further spillage. | The ship's owners say the leaked oil has now been treated and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they were satisfied everything possible was being done to prevent further spillage. |
| A decision will be made over whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed. | A decision will be made over whether to re-float the ship after all the oil and containers have been removed. |
| MSC NAPOLI | MSC NAPOLI |
| Return to the top | Return to the top |