Saga Rose Tragedy

A crewman died after becoming trapped and losing consciousness in the hull of a cruise ship in Hampshire as reported yesterday when two men became locked in the ballast tanks of the Saga Rose docked at Southampton Cruise Terminal. One of the men remained conscious and was pulled to safety through a small hole on a rope and taken to hospital. But the other man was declared dead at about four yesterday afternoon. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said, ‘The man in his 40s has unfortunately died. A man in his 30s was rescued and taken to hospital. He was confused but did not appear to have any other injuries.’

The pair were trapped in the ballast tank, which is a compartment at the bottom of a ship which holds water to control a ship's buoyancy and stability. Water is discharged when the ship is heavily laden and then taken on again when travelling with light cargo. Paul Green, a spokesman for Saga, said the cruise ship, which holds 600 passengers, was due to set off for a cruise this afternoon and the passengers were already on board. They were being informed of events.