Exclusive: Survivors from Long Island speak out about deadly catamaran accident

FARMINGDALE (WABC) -- It was a close call for a Long Island family that survived a nightmare at sea.

The family from Farmingdale was in Costa Rica taking a day trip to Tortuga Island when strong waves filled their catamaran with water.

Now they are sharing their story.

"Thank God that we're alive. Thankful, very thankful," said Janet O'Keefe.

But for Janet and her family, it was most certainly a vacation to remember.

It was last Thursday, about nine miles off the coast of Costa Rica, that their cruise on a catamaran, known as the Pura Vida Princess, suddenly turned into a disaster.

"One of the crew members made an announcement that we were going to turn back because it was very windy," she said.

But it was already too late. Passengers were told to run to one side because the boat was capsizing.

"It just flipped up and people fell into the empty space," said Janet's 18-year old daughter Kelly O'Keefe. "I saw, like kids getting under water. I just jumped out and was like, nope."

Janet was among those wearing a life preserver, who had to tread water in the Pacific for more than an hour, clinging onto a raft holding Kelly.

The bruises she suffered are visible, but three of the 100 passengers died.

"I didn't want my daughter to see it. I kept saying turn around, turn around, because that's what a mother does," said Janet.

But the hardest part was the moment she lost track of her 20-year-old son, Ryan, who was rescued separately after he was stuck in the water as well.

"It was bad, I have to tell ya. I didn't know if he was alive or dead, and at that point, I was horrified, panicked," Janet said.

A cargo ship approached and grabbed Kelly first.

"So I was freaking out, I was crying. I was like, my family's still in the water," said Kelly.

It was several hours before the family was re-united. The cruise company released a statement, "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. At this time we are focusing all of our energy and attention on consoling and assisting the families of those whose loved ones were lost in this unfortunate and unforeseen accident".