For four days and four nights 12 survivors of the Indonesian ferry disaster that left hundreds dead or missing clung to an unmanned oil rig, buffeted by colossal waves and fierce winds.

When they had almost lost hope of rescue, their prayers were answered: a navy vessel spotted them in the Java sea 200 miles (320km) from dry land.

Yesterday the survivors, including a six-year-old boy and his father, arrived at a port in the coastal city of Surabaya and were rushed by ambulance to hospital.

Suyatno, the father of the boy, described the struggle of surviving at sea without food or water.

“Even though I was weak, I never let go of my boy and held him tight. In the rolling seas, I never let him out of my sight and am now grateful to be on land. I am happy I can save the life of my boy.” He said that his wife was still missing.

Other survivors talked of the horror of watching fellow passengers die around them as they clung desperately on to debris in the hope of being rescued.

“I was very sad when I had to get rid of the bodies. But I didn’t know what else to do with so many dead bodies,” said Leopold Kafares, 35, who was found clinging to a liferaft.

Evi Susilowati, a 23-year-old computer student, described how she tried to ration her raft’s supplies of drinking water and sago palm flour among 30 survivors. After the supplies ran out, two of the survivors collapsed into the sea.

“We could not save them,” she said. “They were young men. I just hope they survive.”

Refi Setiawan, a 29-year-old from central Java, described passengers screaming hysterically as the ship began to sink.

“Panic peaked when water got to the deck. The ship slanted to the left but in a few seconds it slanted to the right and immediately capsized,” he said.

“I, thank God, was able to hold on to a wooden panel until a fisherman helped me. I thought I was dead.”

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