Passenger Medevaced from Cruise Ship in Aklan

A 67-year old ailing Chinese passenger was successfully evacuated from a cruise ship by the joint team of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Boracay and Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group at the vicinity waters of Malay, Aklan last Thursday, October 17.

Coast Guard Station (CGS) Boracay received an information around 6:10 a.m. of the said through VHF radio from Captain Pentti Silvennoinen, Master of M/S Superstar Gemini, a cruise ship from Xiamen, China anchored at Caticlan Anchorage Area, Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan.

According to Capt. Silvennoinen, one of their passengers identified as Xu Yao, needs immediate medical attention.

Investigation revealed that around 5:30 a.m. on the same date when Yao suddenly collapsed in his cabin. Immediately, his family members called the attention of the ship’s crew for medical treatment. The medical team of said cruise ship decided to evaluate the victim and bring him to the nearest hospital for further treatment. The Master of the vessel also called PCG for assistance.

Immediately, CGSS Boracay dispatched Deployable Response Team (DRT) onboard PCG rubber boat together with the PNP Maritime Group to medevac Yao. At 6:20 AM, the victim was rushed to Metropolitan Doctors Medical Clinic at Barangay Manoc, Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan onboard Philippine National Red Cross ambulance.

The victim was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr. Jay Hontanosa due to pulmonary hypertension at 7:52 AM.

The cadaver was turned over to Prado Funeral Homes for proper disposition. The family members of the victim intends to transport the cadaver through an aircraft back to China.

M/S Superstar Gemini, with 50,764 GT/28,641 NT is owned and operated by Star Cruise Administrative Services SDN.BHD with business address at 21st floor, Wisma Genting No. 28, Jalan Sultan Isamail 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.