<p><br /> The desperate last moments of dozens of men, women and children on a wooden boat caught up in high swells minutes before it smashed into rocks has been shown on Australia TV.<br /> </p><p><br /> At least 28 people died in the accident off the coast of Christmas Island on Wednesday and more than 40 were rescued.<br /> </p><p><br /> The video showed asylum-seekers sitting helplessly on board the small fishing boat as swells up to three meters continue to push the vessel towards the sharp jagged cliff.<br /> </p><p><br /> A few local residents were seen standing near the rocks looking at the boat, unable to help due to treacherous conditions.<br /> </p><p><br /> Eyewitness, Simon Prince, told Australia's Network Nine that it was impossible to do anything for the passengers.<br /> </p><p><br /> "The gut response was to seeing people drowning and dying was to dive in and try save them but to do that would have been suicide.Scarred for life, what can I say, pretty much haunted by few visions, I have got some very disturbing imagery in my head".<br /> </p><p><br /> Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard said earlier that the death toll could rise, as there were around 100 people believed to be on board the boat.<br /> </p><p><br /> Police said most of the passengers on the timber Indonesian boat were Iraqis. Gillard also said bad weather meant the ill-fated boat was not detected until it was in trouble, but added all the facts would not be clear until police and custom and border protection agencies held inquiries.<br /> </p>
