Trapped crewman 'ran out of air'

Rescuers battled for more than an hour to save the crewman

A crewman who died after becoming trapped in the hull of a cruise ship ran out of oxygen, police have said.

Fire crews were called on Wednesday after two Filipino men working in the ballast tank of the Saga Rose, docked in Southampton, got locked inside.

One of the men remained conscious and was pulled to safety but the other man was declared dead at about 1600 BST.

Police said the death was probably down to a "a lack of oxygen". An investigation has been launched.

Filipino priest Jack Padua was contacted at the Southampton Seafarers' Centre and spoke to the rescued man after he was released from hospital.

He said: "He was shocked and devastated. The man who died was a colleague of his.

"He said his friend asked for help but collapsed."

The priest added: "I went onboard to console the man's partner, who is also a crew member.

"The group have been together for 10 years working on the ship. It is like a family."

A Hampshire police spokesman added: "We have been told it is not fumes, it's lack of oxygen, fresh air in the place they were working."

Confused state

Fire crews spent more than an hour battling to save the man, who was in his 40s. His body has been recovered.

The other man, in his 30s, was taken to hospital in a "confused" state but later released, police said.

The pair were trapped in the ballast tank, which is a compartment at the bottom of a ship which holds water to control a ship's buoyancy and stability.

Water is discharged when the ship is heavily laden and then taken on again when travelling with light cargo.

Paul Green, spokesman for Saga, said the cruise ship, which holds 600 passengers, had been due to set off for a cruise at 1600 BST on Wednesday.

The passengers have been onboard overnight and were being informed of events, he added.

It was hoped the ship would set sail on a 14-night cruise to the Baltic stopping at Amsterdam, Kiel, Riga, and St Petersburg, later on Thursday.

Mr Green said there were usually about 300 crew on board the Saga Rose and anyone wanting to go inside the ballast tank would need written permission and a safety officer as it is an out-of-bounds area.

An investigation is being carried out by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which has a team of five at the scene, and detectives from Hampshire Constabulary.

---

Are you a passenger? Send us your comments using the form below.

Send your pictures to [e-mail], text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions

At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.

Name

Your E-mail address

Town & Country

Phone number (optional):

Comments

The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.

Terms & Conditions