On August 3rd 1991 Ronan Leonard was on a ship called the Oceanos that set out from East London, South Africa headed for Durban.
The ship ran into 40 knot winds and 9 metre (30 foot) swells.
While off the coast an explosion was heard and the ship lost power and started to take on water. The Captain and crew left passengers onboard while they sailed to safety. The Oceanos later sunk.
Ronan was one of the last people onboard.
