Minnesota pastor dies after Sun Princess pool incident
The Rev. Stephen Duane Junker underwent emergency spinal surgery after his family said he was found unresponsive aboard the cruise ship.
The Rev. Stephen Duane Junker, also known as Steve, died Sept. 4 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, according to an obituary. He was 58.
According to a GoFundMe page created by his family, Junker fell and nearly drowned aboard Sun Princess on Aug. 16. His family said he was found face down and unresponsive in a pool before an Italian coast guard boat transported him to a hospital in Naples.
Doctors identified severe spinal cord compression at the C3-C4 level of his neck. Junker underwent emergency surgery on Aug. 17 to relieve the pressure and stabilize the injured area. His family said the operation succeeded, but the injury left him quadriplegic and unable to breathe independently.
Princess Cruises said its crew was notified on Aug. 16 that a passenger required medical assistance. According to the company, the ship's medical team attended to the passenger before the person was transferred ashore for further care.