A Turkish-flagged catamaran crashed into a jetty on the island of Kos on Wednesday, injuring 25 people.
People suffered broken bones and whiplash injuries when they were thrown about as the boat slammed into the wharf.
Five of those hurt sustained serious injuries in the accident, which occurred as the boat was trying to dock at the port of Kos, the Merchant Marine Ministry said.
British tourist Phil Simonetti, whose wife Dawn broke her nose, said: “There was so much blood everywhere it was like a battlefield.
“People suffered broken bones and whiplash injuries when they were thrown about as the boat slammed into the wharf.”
A ministry spokeswoman said the Aegean Cat catamaran, which had a Turkish flag, had been chartered by a holiday company to run regular trips from Didim in Turkey to Kos on Wednesdays.
David Gerasklis, deputy mayor of Kos Town and vice president of Kos Port Authority, said the catamaran crashed into the pier twice.
He blamed a technical problem.
“After it hit the first time, it reversed about 20 metres and then hit the pier again. The second time was worse, as passengers were standing up to see what was happening. Some of them were injured with broken glass inside the boat.”
The injured were being treated at an island hospital, while the rest of the passengers had disembarked safely, Gerasklis said.
Kos lies near the Turkish coast, and is a popular destination for day-trippers from Turkey.
Source: Associated Press, UKPA, The Mirror