Burned crewman brought to O'ahu

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 37-year-old man who was burned in an accident aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Star was in critical condition yesterday at Straub Clinic and Hospital.

The man was working on the ship's boiler system yesterday when he was scalded by steam. The Norwegian Star was about 350 miles south of the Big Island and headed to Fanning Island when the accident occurred.

The ship headed back to the Big Island so the man could be picked up by the Coast Guard and brought to Honolulu for treatment. A Coast Guard helicopter landed on the Norwegian Star yesterday morning about 30 miles south of Kona. It flew him to Kuakini Medical Center, where an ambulance transferred him to Straub Hospital.

The man suffered second-degree burns over 40 percent of his body and was in critical condition yesterday, Straub spokeswoman Claire Tong said.

Another man injured in the accident was being treated in the Norwegian Star's sick bay. His injuries were not deemed life-threatening.

The accident forced the ship to skip the Fanning Island leg of the cruise.

Passengers spent yesterday in Kona and head to Kaua'i today, then will spend two days off Maui and return to Honolulu on Sunday, Norwegian Star spokeswoman Dale Hahn said.