A 58 year old Minnesota man died from complications he suffered from a spinal injury aboard Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess. The man, Stephen “Steve” Junker, was celebrating his son’s wedding when the tragedy occurred.
On August 16, Junker suffered a severe injury “after falling and nearly drowning” on the Sun Princess according to the GoFundMe set up by Junker’s family. He was found in the pool “face down and unresponsive.” No reports indicate how the injury occurred.
The Italian Coast Guard transported Junker to Naples where he was admitted to the ICU and underwent emergency surgery on August 17. The surgery was successful and stabilized Junker but he was unable to move or breathe on his own.
On August 23, Junker was transported from Naples to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. While at Mayo Clinic, Junker was able to communicate by nodding his head and facial expressions and was described as “very much here with us” by his family.
Unfortunately, Junker’s spinal injury did not improve and further testing revealed untreatable injuries. He passed away on September 4 surrounded by loved ones.
His obituary reads, “Steve loved his family. He was a devoted husband to Jeanine and a loving father to his five children. His grandson, Jonah, held a special and cherished place in his heart. Steve faced life, and death, with a quiet and unshakable faith, never afraid of what was to come. Even in his final moments, his thoughts turned to the church and the people he loved.”
The tragedy highlights the risk of being injured on a cruise ship and navigating health care in a foreign country. By all accounts, Junker received lifesaving care in Naples, Italy. However, his family wrote, “Our biggest challenge right now is navigating the Italian healthcare system. While they’re doing their best, they are not well equipped for this type of situation, nor will they cooperate with us regarding his care, independent of the language barrier.”
All cruise ships and most foreign countries, even in Europe, do not have the same medical facilities and professionals present in the United States. Sick and injured passengers and their families often face the difficult choice of receiving healthcare abroad or being medically evacuated back to the United States.
In July, a Louisiana woman suffered a serious injury while jumping from a rope swing while on a cruise excursion in Roatán, Honduras. At first the woman and her boyfriend thought the injury was just a scratch but her condition quickly deteriorated. The couple was given three options: continue treatment on the cruise ship, go to a hospital in Cozumel, Mexico, or be medically evacuated to the United States. The couple chose to go to the United States, a decision that cost them $50,000.