Chinese crew member dies on cargo ship in Vietnam port

The Border Guard Command of Thanh Hoa Province said Tuesday that it is working with related agencies to investigate the case in which three crew members of VIGOR SW, which was docked at Nghi Son International Port in the province, were hospitalized after an accident on Sunday morning.

As the boat stopped to let crew members unload goods at the port, the captain found that three Chinese men, Zhuang Lijn, 52, Li Wen Liang, 33, and Kong Deshan, 23, unconscious. The three men were taken to a local hospital but one of them has been confirmed dead.

One is still in a deep coma and another suffered broken ribs.

Doctor Duong Tat Linh, director of Hop Luc International General Hospital, where they are being treated, said it is possible that the crew members had been poisoned by hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is toxic for humans and animals.

Hydrogen sulfide is often produced from the microbial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, such as in swamps, sewers, or a ship’s cargo compartment.