The Last Missing Victim of the Costa Concordia Disaster Found Three Years Later

The last missing crew member from the Costa Concordia disaster, which is one of the worst maritime disasters in history, was found almost three years after the ship sank. The lifeless body of Russel Rebello, an Indian waiter who was the last person to be found after the disaster, was discovered in November 2014, about three years after the ship went down . The Costa Concordia, under the command of Captain Francesco Schettino, was on a dangerous route near the island of Giglio, Italy, when it struck an underwater rock formation, causing extensive damage and flooding . There were 4,252 passengers and crew members on board when the disaster occurred. Thirty-two people lost their lives in the accident, and the death toll rose to 33 with the death of Israel Franco Moreno, a diver who was working on the wreckage. According to court records, Captain Schettino admitted that he wanted to perform a 'salute maneuver' by sailing close to the island of Giglio . Schettino claimed that he intended to give the passengers a unique experience, salute a retired captain living on the island, and also make a gesture to the head waiter. However, the unauthorized maneuver caused the ship to collide with the rocks and resulted in one of the worst maritime disasters in European history. An Italian court sentenced Francesco Schettino to 16 years in prison for causing the deaths of multiple people, sinking the ship, and abandoning his passengers. Schettino is currently serving his sentence in Rome and is not expected to be released until 2032. Russel Rebello, who was the last person to be found after the disaster, was a waiter on the Costa Concordia. At the time of the accident, he had a three-year-old son, and his family was only able to hold a funeral after his body was found . Kevin Rebello, Russel's brother, expressed his gratitude to those who supported the family during the long wait for his brother's body to be found . The family had not told Russel's young son about his father's fate for a long time. Kevin Rebello had previously stated that they would tell his son that his father was a hero who died trying to save hundreds of lives