Navy crew hindered in refugee rescue

(AAP) - Navy crews who tried to save 89 asylum seekers after their fishing vessel broke apart on rocks at Christmas Island had to battle rough seas, debris and engine failure during their rescue mission, a Perth coronial inquest has heard.
An inquest is being held into the December 15, 2010, Christmas Island tragedy which resulted in the deaths of 30 people from Iraq and Iran and the likely deaths of 20 more people.
Lieutenant Commander Mitchell Robert Livingstone, in charge of HMAS Pirie, told the inquest on Thursday his crew did not initially know the severity of the situation.
Lt Cmdr Livingstone said the ship was on the other side of the island, sheltering from the bad weather, when his crewmen were told to intercept the fishing vessel.
The crew battled huge swells and rough seas as they made their way to the vessel, which meant they couldn't take a direct route.
HMAS Pirie also suffered an automatic engine shutdown after debris hit a propeller, meaning the ship had to travel at a slower speed to reach the boat, Lt Cmdr Livingstone said.
When the inflatable boats arrived at the scene it was clear the situation was serious, and from the reports he was receiving "there were less survivors and more deceased", he said.
Lt Cmdr Livingstone said the survivors were suffering from internal bleeding, head trauma, hypothermia and shock when his crew rescued them from the water.
He said that among the wounded he saw was a "small girl wrapped in a blanket" who was lapsing in and out of consciousness.
Lt Cmdr Livingstone said his priority was to get the survivors onto land without them seeing the bodies that were being recovered.
The inquest, before Coroner Alastair Hope, continues.