Port worker dies in freak accident

CEBU, Philippines - A port worker died after a 20-foot container van accidentally was lowered on him yesterday dawn while he was asleep on a ship docked at the Cebu International Port.

Jerry Boliver, 52, a port worker of OPASCOR who lived at Magsaysay Street, barangay Suba, Cebu City died on board M/V Mell Saujana.

 Boliver was supposed to go home the night before but he was asked to stay because Saujana arrived earlier than scheduled and his presence was needed.

According to an OPASCOR nurse, Boliver was asleep on top of a 20-foot container van at around 4:00 a.m. when Renato Garcia, a gantry crane operator, lowered another 20-foot container van on the top of the container van where Boliver was sleeping.

Garcia said he did not notice Boliver's body.

Felix Mendijer, who checked the newly loaded container, found Boliver.

He notified the nurse on duty who immediately took Boliver to Perpetual Succour Hospital where he was declared dead.