Moldovan ballet dancer denies being Costa Concordia captain's lover

London, Jan 21 (ANI): A Moldovan ballet dancer, who was allegedly dining with the captain of Costa Concordia on the night the Italian luxury cruise ship capsized, has denied claims that she was his lover.

Domnica Cemortan, 25, was seen enjoying dinner with Captain Francesco Schettino, just 30 minutes before the liner struck rocks and sank off the Italian island of Giglio.

She was also seen on the bridge of the ship alongside the captain as the chaotic evacuation got under way.

Italian prosecutors said Schettino, who is married, may have been distracted from his duties by trying to impress the dancer.

But speaking from her native Moldova, Cemortan, mother-of-one, vehemently denied there was anything improper in their relationship.

"I am not the captain's lover. You know why? He was always showing me photos of his daughter when she was little. A man who wants a lover does not behave like that," The Telegraph quoted Cemortan as saying.

She also defended Schettino and the crew's actions throughout the tragedy claiming they had successfully saved thousands of lives, and called the captain a 'hero'.

Cemortan has been employed by Carnival cruises for around five years working as a dancer and also helping translate for the large number of Russian passengers on board.

However during the fateful voyage, Cemortan was not on board as an employee, but travelling as a passenger. (ANI)