Dead cruise ship sailor is named

The man died onboard the Saga Rose in Southampton on Wednesday

A crewman who died after running out of oxygen in a ship's ballast tank has been named by police.

Joselito Zordilla, 43, from the Philippines, did not have the usual breathing gear when he went inside the ballast tank, the BBC has learned.

He collapsed and died on the Saga-owned cruise ship in Southampton on Wednesday. A second man was rescued.

The vessel and its 540 passengers left on a 14-night cruise to the Baltic on Thursday evening, 24 hours late.

Mr Zordilla was unconscious when rescuers arrived. He was later pronounced dead at the scene and his family have been informed. A post-mortem examination showed he died from oxygen starvation.

Hampshire police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) were carrying out a joint investigation and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has been informed.

This is an absolute tragedy and we are determined it will be the last Paul Green, Saga spokesman

Firefighters rescued his 38-year-old colleague, also from the Philippines and he was taken to Southampton General Hospital but later discharged.

Police are investigating the suspicion of gross negligence.

Detectives are examining whether the men were told to enter the ballast tanks or told to inspect them from a safe distance above.

Kent-based Saga confirmed that various guidelines should be followed during the procedure.

These include ventilating the tanks well in advance and that anyone wanting to go inside must have written permission and be accompanied by a safety officer, as it is an out-of-bounds area.

Company spokesman Paul Green said: "There will be a full independent investigation.

"We have never had an accidental death of a crew member before. This is an absolute tragedy and we are determined it will be the last."

Saga said it would not comment on whether these procedures were followed.