Stories of survivors in Eastern Star disaster

Premier Li Keqiang talks with Zhu Hongmei at the hospital. [Photo/China News Service]

Zhu Hongmei, 65, tourist

When the shipwreck happened, Zhu Honemei, a 67-year-old Nanjing native, was trapped at the bottom of the boat. Later when the ship capsized she luckily had her head above water.

Then Zhu climbed onto a cabinet and found an iron stick. She began to hit the hull with the stick.

She was pulled out of water 17 hours after the accident.

"My husband was also on the ship but I was unable to find him,"Zhu said.