Dad-of-five dies weeks after being found ‘face down and unresponsive’ in cruise pool

A pastor and dad-of-five has died weeks after he was found ‘face down and unresponsive’ in a swimming pool on board a cruise ship.

Stephen Junker, from Minnesota, was on the Sun Princess cruise off the coast of Italy to celebrate his son’s wedding.

But the celebrations took a tragic turn after Junker, 58, sustained a devastating spinal injury.

According to a GoFundMe page set up by his heartbroken family, Junker fell into a swimming pool on 16 August and ‘nearly’ drowned.

“He was found in the pool face down and unresponsive,” the family said.

Junker, who was a pastor of Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota, was rushed to hospital in Naples by the Italian Coast Guard and was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit.

Stephen Junker was rushed to hospital in Naples, Italy (GoFundMe)

The family said ‘doctors discovered severe compression of his spinal cord at the C3–C4 level of his neck’ and he underwent emergency surgery on 17 August to try and relieve the pressure on his spinal cord and stabilise the damaged area of his neck.

The surgery was completed successfully but the injury was so severe he was left quadriplegic and unable to breathe without a ventilator.

On 23 August, Junker’s family flew him back to the US on a transatlantic medevac flight and he underwent further treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

“After arriving at Mayo, Steve underwent diagnostic imaging. The tests revealed compression in his spine, which was relieved via emergency surgery,” the family shared in an update.

“The doctors have since attempted to test his ability to breathe on his own. Unfortunately, today his diaphragm muscles weren’t able to support independent breathing so he was put back on a ventilator. We will continue to test his breathing over the coming days.”

Tragically, just days later, his devastated family were told the injuries were not treatable and Junker passed away surrounded by his loved ones on 4 September.

Tragically, his injuries were untreatable and he passed away weeks later (GoFundMe)

“At 6:33 PM today, Steve went to be with Jesus. He was surrounded by his wife, children, parents, and friends,” Junker’s family wrote in a later update on their GoFundMe page.

“Further diagnostic testing had revealed injuries that were not treatable.”

“We’re grateful to everyone at Mayo Clinic for their excellent care and to everyone who donated to help support Steve and the family,” the family wrote. “We’re glad we were able to give him the opportunity to receive world-class care and reassured that everything that could possibly be done to help him was done.”

At the time of publication, the family’s fundraiser has exceeded its $30,000 goal, raising more than $35,000.

An online obituary, said Junker, who was a pastor for almost a decade, was known for his ‘animated sermons, his love of a good conversation on nearly any subject, and his readiness to help anyone in need’.

In a touching tribute his wife Jeanine remember her husband as a ‘wonderful person, loved by many’.

He is survived by his wife, five children, his grandson, parents and sister.

LADbible has reached out to Princess Cruises for comment.