FAMILY LIAISON

When a seafarer in Tuticorin suffered a major heart attack, our chaplain rushed him to hospital for life-saving surgery, and kept in touch with the seafarer’s family throughout his recovery.

In May 2010, MtS chaplain the Revd Simon Dharmaraj visited Felix Capule Junior’s ship, to find him in great pain and asking to be taken to hospital immediately. The chaplain urged the ship’s captain to let him seek medical assistance as soon as possible, later saying, “If we had delayed for several minutes he would have been dead.”

Local doctors quickly identified that Mr Capule had suffered a massive heart attack and sent him to the intensive care unit at the regional Sundaram Hospital, where he was treated by a heart specialist. By the following morning his condition had stabilised.

For the next ten days the MtS supported Mr Capule through his recovery, keeping in contact with his worried family in the Philippines to keep them regularly updated with his progress. Our staff visited daily and transported his crewmates to and from the hospital so that the seafarer did not feel alone.

Today, Mr Capule is in good health, has taken up a teaching job at the Philippine Merchant Marine School, and is volunteering for a local maritime charity. His son has even been in touch with Simon since to express his gratitude, saying: “On behalf of my family I would like to thank you for helping my dad during his time of need, we really do appreciate it.”

Shipwreck

Piracy

Injury

Unpaid wages

Bereavement

Homesickness