Cargo vessel sailor dies of sunstroke

A seaman yesterday died of sunstroke in hospital, days after he was stricken aboard a cargo vessel.

The Asian was one among 66 people admitted to Fujairah Hospital suffering from sunstroke and exhaustion between June 8 and August 18.

Obeid Khalfa Al Khadeem, Director of Fujairah Hospital, said: "The workers were of different Asian nationalities, working in construction companies in Fujairah. Workers suffering from exhaustion were discharged the same day. Three seamen, who work on a cargo vessel, were admitted to the ICU".

He said of the three, one died, another was discharged, while the third is still being treated.
Dr Fadel Qazim Aziz, an abdominal diseases specialist at Fujairah Hospital, said they were suffering from sunstrokes of three varying intensities.

Some workers were given liquid to compensate for fluid loss while others had cramps with high temperature. They were put in a cool place and given salt tablets and liquids to compensate for salt loss due to sweating. They were also suffering from dryness in the mouth.

The three suffered the most with the sunstroke affecting the liver, heart, kidneys, muscles, lungs and the brain.