Russell Rebello, and Indian waiter, is one of the two victims of the Costa Concordia cruise ship sinking whose body is still missing—but human remains found on the ship are likely those of Rebello and the Italian woman still missing, authorities reported Thursday.
The remains are “absolutely consistent” with the two victims, Franco Gabrielli, the head of the government agency overseeing the vessel’s salvage, told Sky News, but DNA testing is necessary to confirm their identities. The families have been notified that the remains were found, reports ITV.
Rebello’s brother, Kevin Rebello, has spent much time in the past few months on the Italian island of Giglio where the cruise ship salvage operations were based.
He told ITV in an interview Sept. 17, “After so long in the water though I don’t hold out much hope.”
The ship, recently hauled out of the water, had been submerged since it sank in January 2012, killing 32 people.
Rebello said: “I have done my research and I will accept whatever is done. It is difficult but I accept that.”
