Man’s death mars cruise ship’s visit

 A Chinese national died as soon as an international luxury liner on a world tour docked in this island resort the other day.

Sixty-seven-year-old Xu Wen Yao of Shanghai, China, was one of the passengers of the SuperStar Gemini of the cruise ship line Star Cruises.

Xu succumbed to cardiac arrest, according to the police.

The SuperStar Gemini arrived in Boracay on Thursday morning, bringing in about 1,271 passengers, mostly Chinese nationals, and 937 crew members, including 350 Filipinos.

It came from Keelung, Taiwan. Aside from Boracay, the ship is also bound for the Philippine capital of Manila, Hong Kong, and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia.

The cruise ship was docking in the island when Xu had a cardiac arrest, police investigation said.

The medical personnel of the cruise ship applied basic life support to the Chinese national and rushed him to the Metropolitan Clinic here, police said.

Dr. Joana Dy, the attending physician, declared him dead due to a cardio-respiratory arrest.

For eight hours, tourists brought in by the SuperStar Gemini experienced Boracay through sightseeing and strolling at the white-sand beach, souvenir-hunting, and dining in fine restaurants, among others.

Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard personnel secured the anchored ship while the police ensured the safety of the passengers while they were off the cruise liner.

The visit of the SuperStar Gemini marked the start of another cruise season for Boracay.

This world-renowned island resort is expecting another cruise ship visit — that of SuperStar Aquarius — in the next few weeks.