42yo Pinoy seaman dies from COVID-19 in Australia: "He started as a galley boy … he came for his dream"

Artania cruise ship crewman in his 40s becomes youngest person in Australia to die from coronavirus
Benjamin Gubana 17 April 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/man-in-40s-youngest-to-die-in-aus...

A 42-year-old man who was a crew member of the cruise ship Artania has died in a Perth hospital, becoming the seventh coronavirus death recorded in WA and the youngest person to die of the virus in the country.

The man, from the Philippines, died last night in Royal Perth Hospital (RPH).

He is the youngest person in Australia to die from coronavirus.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said the man was put in touch with his family before he died.

Latest information from the WA Health Department

"His family have been notified, and were put in contact with that crew member via translators and the shipping company," he said.

"They were able to reach out to him in his dying days.

"My thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends, and fellow crew members, at what must undoubtedly be a very difficult time for them."

The Artania has been docked at Fremantle port for weeks, and has been at the centre of a standoff with state and federal authorities.

WA Premier Mark McGowan had previously demanded Artania leave Australian waters, but the crew sought to remain for a further two weeks.

The majority of the ship's foreign passengers were flown to Europe on charter flights, but hundreds of crew remained on board.

The ship had been given a deadline by the Australian Border Force to leave Fremantle port on Saturday.
Victim had 'job of a lifetime'

Mr Cook said the situation was "incredibly sad".

"This is obviously someone who had the job of a lifetime, had the opportunities to travel the world, that's denied to many other people in their country," Mr Cook said.

The man was taken off the ship several days ago, before being treated at RPH.

"The procedure is that anyone who is symptomatic on the boat is then taken off the boat and isolated in a city hotel," Mr Cook said.

"Then they are swabbed for COVID-19."

"So if any crew members are coming up as positive, they're already off the boat."
Victim had other health issues, captain says

The Artania's captain Morten Hansen expressed his sadness at the passing of his crew member, telling 6PR Radio in Perth the man suffered from other health issues.

"It's always heartbreaking, he was a Filipino member who has been with the company since 2006," the captain said.

"He started as a galley boy … he came for his dream."

The captain thanked Fremantle and Perth residents for being "kind-hearted people".

He confirmed the Artania should be departing Fremantle on Saturday afternoon.

"We still have a lot of small things to do before we set sail," he said.

Artania linked to 79 WA coronavirus cases

About 40 per cent of WA's coronavirus cases, or 219, have been linked to cruise ships.

Mr Cook said 79 of those have now come from Artania.

Another six new cases were confirmed in WA overnight, bringing the state's total to 541.

The new cases range in age between 26 and 79 years old.

Five are directly related to cruise ships, while one is linked to overseas travel.

see also... https://www.sbs.com.au/news/42-year-old-cruise-worker-becomes-youngest-p...