JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Some family members of those aboard the El Faro are speaking to News4Jax sharing their relief that the ship may have been found and what their hope is now.
We spoke to Frank Hamm's daughter Sunday morning. The last time she saw her dad was the night before El Faro shipped out. She said the family got together for a family dinner. She is thankful to finally hear some news.
"I was happy. I was happy, you know, that was a good thing to hear," Destiny Sparrow said.
It's a small glimmer of hope for Sparrow, who is still waiting for news about her father. He was one of the mariners aboard the El Faro when it sank.
"I have my days when I cry. I just have to be strong because I don't want to cry in front of my daughter. I try to explain to her that her granddad went to go see Jesus in Heaven," Sparrow said.
As crews begin the process of trying to identify the wreckage that has been found, Sparrow hopes officials will find the data recorder. That way, she and her loved ones can know what happened to El Faro.
"Last conversations and all that was said. There's a lot of questions being asked, but no one is receiving any answers, you know," Sparrow said.
Talking to family members of others aboard the ship at times is too emotional for her. Instead, Sparrow monitors the latest updates through social media. She
describes Hamm as a family man above all. She remembers the good times they shared together as a family.
"Every year, we would do a family vacation. He would take us to Disney World and my daughter is 5. They're close, he would take us to Disney World or Wild Adventures. We would just travel," Sparrow said.
She says she is just taking things day by day.