Pilot of cruise ship that smashed into #Venice canal tour boat describes how he battled to avoid disaster when vessel's controls failed and tugboats helplessly tried to pull the vessel to safety . ----------- The unidentified pilot of the #MSCOpera told emergency officials the ship experienced a loss of controls and that he had 'activated all procedures' to stop it before it crashed on the #GiudeccaCanal in Venice. ----------- In an audio clip revealed in the Italian media, the pilot said anchors were dropped and that tugboats connected to the ship's bow and stern took maneuvers to stop the ship. Five people were injured in the collision, all of whom had been on board the small pleasure cruiser River Countess at about 8.30am Sunday. ---------- Video footage shows tourists leaping from the river boat during the crash on Sunday. Top right: The wrecked River Countess after the collision. Bottom right: Campaigners at the dock protesting against the admission of cruise ships to Venice in the wake of Sunday's incident. @video2fone #video2fone https://www.instagram.com/p/ByPbBFjgf2V/?igshid=1rsbis9tik27p
