He survived Estonia - hears the story of the accident 25 years ago

Acute death anxiety and panic attacks, these are just a small part of the problems Erik Gemheden fought against in the first years after the Estonia disaster.

- It was chaos, my whole life shook. All the security I experienced before leaving home was like being blown away, he says.

It took many years before Erik Gemheden could return to a normal life. Although a lot of emotions and memories arise on September 28 every year, he can now handle it.

- Now I'm not afraid anymore these days, now I can handle the emotions. I have accepted that every year at this time it will be difficult, I allow myself to be sad, he says.

After the Estonia disaster, Erik Gemheden has made new friends with whom he can share his experience. He is now more of a close friend of Helene Lundholm whose father lost his life in the accident.

- We can support each other in a very good way. I survived and she has a relative who passed away, we understand each other very well. It feels very valuable, he says.

He describes it as important that he can now share what he has been through with friends who understand him.

- Many who have not been involved in this in any way have a hard time understanding because they do not have this experience, and it can feel heavy at times, he says.