Civil Guard Officer Dies During Hantavirus Evacuation on Cruise Ship in Tenerife
A 63-year-old Civil Guard officer died of a heart attack while coordinating the emergency evacuation of passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the Port of Granadilla.
The response to a hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius took a tragic turn this Sunday when a Civil Guard officer died during evacuation efforts at the Port of Granadilla. The 63-year-old officer suffered a heart attack while helping coordinate the transport of passengers to Tenerife South Airport.
The incident occurred near the emergency command post, leaving teams on-site in shock. Despite medical personnel from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) performing CPR for over thirty minutes, they were unable to revive him. Doctors considered an emergency air evacuation to a hospital, but the officer did not respond to treatment.
Known to his colleagues as "Berto," the officer was a veteran with nearly thirty years of service. Though officially in reserve status, he was on active duty at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Command and lived at the Ofra barracks. At the time of his death, he was managing logistics for the Helicopter Unit, a key part of the ongoing epidemiological response.
Health Minister Mónica García, who was at the port overseeing the virus containment protocols, was immediately notified. She arrived at the scene to monitor the situation and offer her condolences to the officer's colleagues. His death has deeply affected the evacuation operation, which remains focused on containing the virus while ensuring the safety of those on board.