Mersey typhoon victim was Falklands hero

Sep 28 2008

A TYPHOON victim’s dramatic escape from a ship when it was torpedoed during the Falklands conflict was today revealed.

Graham Ross, 52, of Greasby, Wirral, was killed last week as he carried out work on the Maersk Kithira ship as it was battered by strong winds off the Chinese coast on Tuesday.

The chief engineer died 26 years after narrowly escaping with his life while serving on the Liverpool-registered merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor during the Falklands conflict.

Twelve crew died after it was hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile in May 1982.

During the tragedy, Mr Ross, a second engineer, was attempting to leave the stricken vessel when he saw the ladders on the side of the boat had been burnt and smashed away.

He was faced with having to jump into the sea, described as an “out of the frying pan, into the fire” decision by fellow survivor Charles Drought, of Saughall Massie, Wirral.

After leaping from the ship into freezing waters, Mr Ross had to swim towards a number of life rafts.

Upon reaching the first raft, he was told it was full and refused entry.

But he drew on his strength to swim around it and finally made it to a second raft, which let him on board.

Mr Ross then recounted being one of the final men to see Captain Ian North, who heroically oversaw the evacuation of his men before being killed when a raft went under the ship’s stern.

Tributes were today being paid to Mr Ross, who joined Cunard Shipping as a 16-year-old cadet in 1972.

Neighbours of the bachelor said he was an “excellent man”, who spent six months at a time at sea and was experienced at working in arduous conditions.

Unconfirmed reports say he suffered a broken back and legs when the Maersk Kithira was battered by strong winds and waves.

He had worked for Maersk since 1991 and sailed as a chief engineer for eight years.