Richard Piedade Rodrigues, 24, Kolhapur resident and employee of the Royal Caribbean Cruise International Limited, is missing in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas since January 11.
Rodrigues was posted on the ship Monarch of the Seas as housekeeper. On the night of January 11, the company informed Gabriel, his brother, over a phone call that Richard had fallen into the ocean, and search operations were on.
“What exactly happened to him on January 11 is a mystery to us. How he fell into the sea and what rescue operations were carried out to save him have not been disclosed to us,” said Gabriel.
In an e-mail to Gabriel (dated January 13), Dr Fabio Acevedo, medical crew supervisor of the company, said that rescue efforts were concluded without success after sunset on January 11.
In another e-mail on January 13, Acevedo said that search operations had been stopped, and a staffer, Clara Gam, would be in touch regarding the shipment of Richard’s belongings, any monies and other benefits.
“The ships are well equipped and the staff is trained for safety and security. Why efforts were not carried out to save Richard when he fell into the sea is a big question for us,” said Daniel, Richard’s cousin, an employee with the same company.
On Monday, Gabriel contacted the external affairs ministry, human rights commission, as well as the superintendent of police, Kolhapur, via e-mail.
“I spoke to him last on January 7. He said he was well and would return in the summer,” said his 60-year-old mother Rosaline.
Comments