The family of Alan Kurdi at first did not want to use the over-crowded rubber raft that carried them to death, Abdullah, the father, told reporters Friday after the funeral of his sons and wife.
He said on the third attempt to reach the Greek island of Kos, the family was asked to board a 6-meter-long plastic boat with 12 people and a captain.
I told the smuggler, "We will not go in this boat." He said, "Look how easy and fast we can get there."
The craft was only in the water for four minutes, by Abdullah's account, before it capsized.
"The Turkish boat captain jumped into the water with the first wave and left us alone on the boat. I tried to save my family. I took control of the boat, but with the second wave the boat flipped over," he said.
"I couldn’t do anything. I just embraced my family and held them tight. Galeb died first, then Alan and his mother."
