Tragedy in Southampton

Fr Jack Padua

Support for seafarers when a colleague dies onboard

AOS chaplain Fr Jack Padua was called to attend to a ship on which a crew member tragically died on 11 June 2008. Cruise ship Saga Rose was docked in Southampton when two Filipino members of the crew became trapped while working in the ballast tank. Fire crews were able to free one of the men alive but his colleague died through lack of oxygen.

Fr Jack, himself from the Philippines, visited the rescued seafarer in hospital and described him as "shocked and devastated". Fr Jack later went onboard the ship to spend time with the dead man's colleagues.

After meeting members of the crew, Fr Jack said

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

The cruise ship Saga Rose carries 600 passengers and 300 crew. Southampton is considered the principal cruise ship port in England. Fr Jack and the AOS Southampton pastoral team visit cruise ships bringing pastoral care to the crew and hospitality staff.

click here to read more about Fr Jack's work with cruise ships on the AOS international website