Costa Concordia survivor speaks out about 'life-changing' trauma

British passengers on board the ill-fated Costa Concordia when it ran aground are preparing to sue the ship's operators after the captain was jailed for 16 years.

One of the survivors told ITV's Good Morning Britain the trauma had "changed his life", leaving him afraid to get back on a ship.

More than 4,000 passengers and crew were travelling on the ship when it was steered too close to the island of Giglio, Tuscany, in January 2012, hitting rocks and severely listing before sinking completely.

Thirty-two people were killed.

Captain Francesco Schettino, aged 54, was sentenced to to 10 years for multiple manslaughter, five years for causing the shipwreck and one year for abandoning his passengers after a trial which lasted 19 months.

And now, passengers are hoping the verdict and sentence will mean compensation from ship owner Costa Crociere, which is also facing legal action from the Tuscany region and Giglio island.

Among them is Joseph Strible, who was just 19 at the time. He survived the disaster by jumping from the ship and swimming to shore.

He said the incident had left him traumatised - and could even affect his career as a dancer.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Joseph said he had been in his cabin when he felt the ship suddenly lean to one side.

With no information forthcoming from the crew, who eventually told passengers there was just something wrong with the generator, he said initially the atmosphere on board was "calm".

But when people realised what was happened, he said, it descended into chaos.