Too dangerous to enter sunken MV Barima – French diver

What this source establishes

Reports that a 15-member specialist dive team from the French Armed Forces in French Guiana told relatives of the missing that entering the wreck is too dangerous, citing ropes and hammocks inside, mud, darkness and strong tidal currents. The unnamed diver states about 15 dives were completed between Tuesday and 27 July, and that lifting the vessel would be “very, very difficult”. Gives 179 aboard, 76 rescued, 73 bodies recovered, at least 30 unaccounted for.

Key claims

• RESOLVES a contested figure: the French deployment is a 15-member team, of whom BBC News reports 12 are divers, with two doctors and a mechanic. Ignite News's '15 French Guiana divers' and the BBC's breakdown are consistent, not conflicting
• The French dive team states it is too dangerous to enter the wreck - ropes and hammocks inside, buried in mud, no visibility, strong tidal currents
• About 15 dives had been completed on the wreck between Tuesday and 27 July
• On lifting the vessel the diver said it would be 'very, very difficult' - bearing on the Prime Minister's 24-25 July statements that boats were standing by for a possible righting operation
• Delivered directly to relatives of the missing rather than through a government briefing

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