Several news sites, including the Courthouse News Service, have reported on a lawsuit filed by a man that was left adrift in a small fishing boat, with two others that perished, after they had summoned help from a Princess cruise boat that failed to come to their aid.
Princess Cruises is named in the suit for a "callous disregard for human life" as their "failure to rescue was tantamount to a condemnation of these men to suffer and die at sea."
The two men that died were aged 16 and 24.
The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade Court by A.V., the 18 year-old Panamanian survivor.
A.V. recalled the events as follows:
"On March 10, 2012, a stranded boat, the Fifty Cents, was clearly identified as a vessel in need of rescue by a crewmember of the cruise ship Star Princess. This sighting was further reported by three passengers. Instead of rescuing the stranded men, the Star Princess kept its course. This incident was once again reported to an officer of the Star Princess who continued the pattern of callous disregard for human life and did not act to save the men who were adrift at sea."
The three had boarded the boat in Rio Hato, Panama on February 24. After loosing power, the small craft drifted out to sea for 15 days before allegedly being sighted by the cruise ship.
According to the complaint, A.V. had alerted the cruise ship to their distress but the ship failed to rescue them.
The complaint read, "When the plaintiff, (A.V.), and his now deceased companions, (O.B.) and (F.O.), saw the cruise ship they did everything in their power to signal that they were in distress and in need of rescue…Three passengers aboard the Star Princess …spotted the Fifty Cents and concluded that the vessel was in distress and that the men on board were signaling for rescue. These three passengers immediately reported the distressed boat to a crewmember of the Star Princess who in turn reported this emergency situation to the bridge. This same crewmember also visually confirmed the distressed boat for himself. Despite this clear notice of a boat in distress…Star Princess failed to discharge its duty to render assistance to the distressed vessel and its occupant."
A.V. said that of his two friends, one died later that day, the other, five days afterwards.
It is further alleged in the suit that the three cruise ship passengers, after noting that the cruise failed to assist the smaller vessel "followed up with an officer of the Star Princess. They all confronted this Officer with the information and as asked him what had happened to the distressed boat they reported. This officer did not have an answer for them and walked away without explanation."
After drifting nearly 600 miles in 28 days A.V. was finally rescued.
A.V. is seeking damages for negligence and emotional distress.
If another party has caused you emotional distress due to negligence or recklessness, you have grounds for lawsuit. Contact a personal injury lawyernear you today for help!