Russel Rebello's funeral was held in Naigaon on Sunday, three years after he died in the Costa Concordia capsize.
Three years after he lost his life in the Costa Concordia ship capsize off the coast of Italy, Russel Rebello was laid to rest near his home in Naigaon, in Mumbai's outskirts, on Sunday. His remains had been found on November 3, 2014, on the eighth floor of the sunken ship, and Mr Rebello's family have expressed gratitude for the closure.
Mr Rebello had been 33 years old when the ship had capsized after hitting some rocks near the Giglio Island in the Mediterranean Sea on January 12, 2012. Over 4,200 people had been on board, including 1,023 crew members. Mr Rebello was among the 32 who lost their lives.
The then External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna, had promised to help his family locate his body, but that is a wait that has taken three years.
Mr Rebello's remains were found trapped under furniture on the eighth floor of the sunken ship. The identity of the body had been confirmed through DNA analysis, as it had decomposed considerably after being submerged for three years.
Mr Rebello's brother, Kevin, who has been fighting for years to ensure that the family gets closure seemed relieved today. He praised the Italian government for their unstinted and continuous support in this case. "We had to get permissions to get his body back to Mumbai. It took three months. I did everything I possibly could. Today he is finally back home," Keven Rebello told NDTV.
He also said the Indian government is not prepared or equipped for situations like these. "It is a long process, and it is difficult for me to judge them. There should be some assistance that should be provided and there should be a designated person to handle such cases," he added.
About 1000 people attended Russel Rebello's funeral. He is survived by a son and his wife, Vilma.
The ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial for his role in the disaster and is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. His lawyers argue he was not the only person to blame for the accident.