Rescuer says ‘it’s a miracle they didn’t all die’ after North Sea oil tanker crash

One of the rescuers who responded to the mayday call when a shipping container collided with a tanker in the North Sea has said ‘It’s a miracle they didn’t all die’.

At least 37 crew aboard both vessels had an astonishing escape as ‘multiple explosions’ rocked US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate – anchored ten miles off Hull and loaded with highly flammable kerosene for American warplanes.

Its crew abandoned ship minutes after it was rammed by MV Solong – reportedly on autopilot as it headed from Scotland to Rotterdam with 15 containers of toxic sodium cyanide among its cargo.

Fears were growing last night of an environmental disaster, amid reports of fuel leaking out across the Humber Estuary towards the East Yorkshire coast.

Local MP Graham Stuart confirmed one person is in hospital, with all 36 others from both vessels safe.

A trawlerman who was among dozens of small boats which rushed to respond to the mayday call just before 10am described ‘very scary’ scenes as they were confronted with ‘plumes of smoke’ and a ‘really strong smell of burning’.

‘It’s a miracle they didn’t all die,’ he added. ‘The fog was pretty horrendous.’