US diver in endosulfan removal operations hospitalized

MANILA, Philippines – A 38-year-old American member of the Filipino-American team conducting retrieval operations of the toxic chemical endosulfan still inside the sunken ferry M/V Princess of the Stars was airlifted to Manila yesterday morning to get medical treatment for cyanide poisoning.

John Hancock, a technical diver of Titan Salvage, was airlifted from an outpost in Cajidiocan, Sibuyan at 7:30 a.m. after he was given clearance for air travel by Coast Guard head physician Dr. Ted Esguerra.

A Philippine Coast Guard Bolkow helicopter took Hancock from Sibuyan to the Medical City Hospital in Pasig for a battery of tests.

Hancock had been exposed to isocyanate, a chemical used by Titan in their operations to retrieve the endosulfan from the sunken vessel last Sept. 25.

It was said that the diver’s left arm came in contact with the isocyanate, causing chemical reactions on the left part of his body.

On Sept. 29, a team of doctors in Romblon diagnosed the American as suffering from acute coronary syndrome with cyanide poisoning.

The Coast Guard, upon receiving the request for Hancock’s airlifting to Manila Thursday night, promptly sent an Air Medical Evacuation Service team led by Esguerra yesterday morning.

A check conducted on Hancock’s vital signs showed he was capable of making the one and a half hour flight to Manila.

“I found his medical condition stable so I gave the green light for his airlift to Manila,” Esguerra, who is an experienced rescue doctor, told The STAR.

However, he said the Coast Guard helicopter was only allowed to fly up to an altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level to protect Hancock.

Esguerra said Hancock was conscious during the flight and his condition was continuously observed with a vital signs monitor and a cardio-rater.

Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) vice president for marketing Jordan Go said that Hancock is not in critical condition.

However, Ed Ravago, oil spill response coordinator, denied early reports that the diver was a victim of cyanide poisoning.

“We categorically deny cyanide poisoning because we don’t handle cyanide on board. We have no need for it. For the record, there has never been any incident of any chemical spillage in our retrieval operations,” Ravago said.

Tiffany Cartier, dive medical technician of Titan Maritime Inc. and the first medic to attend to Hancock, said that “while doing some patch work for one of our Hazmat (hazardous materials suit), he complained of shortness of breath and tingling sensation in his left arm, and overall feeling of sickness.”

“He has personal health issues which have nothing to do with chemicals or the dive job. He was cleared for the job before joining the team and he is a professional diver and properly trained in Hazmat handling,” Cartier said in the statement.

Considering that they have inadequate medical facilities at the campsite in Sibuyan Island, Dr. Tessie Antonio initially assessed that based on the manifested symptoms alone, Hancock might be suffering from coronary problems.

Go said that as of 3 p.m. yesterday, they have already removed 213 packs of endosulfan, which is more than half of the total 400 packs of the toxic substance.

– With Evelyn Macairan