Dad-of-five dies weeks after being found 'face down' in cruise ship swimming pool

Dad-of-five dies weeks after being found 'face down' in cruise ship swimming pool Minnesota dad and pastor Stephen Junker, 58, died after being found 'face down and unresponsive' in a swimming pool aboard the Sun Princess cruise ship, his family said A dad-of-five from Minnesota has died after suffering a devastating spinal cord injury while on board a cruise ship celebrating his son's wedding in Italy. Stephen Junker, 58, fell into a swimming pool aboard the Sun Princess ship, operated by Princess Cruises, on August 16. He was found "face down and unresponsive", according to a fundraiser set up on GoFundMe by his family. Mr Junker, a pastor at Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota, died from his injuries on September 5. He was taken by an Italian Coast Guard boat to a hospital in Naples, where doctors discovered severe compression of his spinal cord at the C3-C4 level of his neck, the family said. Junker underwent emergency spinal surgery on August 17 and was subsequently diagnosed as quadriplegic. He was unable to breathe without mechanical ventilation. "Our biggest challenge right now is navigating the Italian healthcare system," the family said at the time. "While they’re doing their best, they are not well equipped for this type of situation, nor will they cooperate with us regarding his care, independent of the language barrier." On August 23, he was transferred from the Italian hospital to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on a transatlantic medevac flight, according to an update on the GoFundMe page. His family later said further diagnostic testing at Mayo Clinic had revealed injuries that were not treatable. The family expressed their gratitude to people who donated to the fundraiser, which had raised more than $34,900 (around £25,750) at the time of reporting. They also thanked medical staff at Mayo Clinic, saying: "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." Mr Junker had served the congregation and community at Chippewa Lutheran Church for nearly a decade, according to his obituary, which described being a minister as "among the greatest joys and honors of his life". "He was known for his animated sermons, his love of a good conversation on nearly any subject, and his readiness to help anyone in need, whether that meant offering counsel or simply producing the right tool for the job from his ever-prepared pockets," the obituary reads. "Above all, Steve loved his family. He was a devoted husband to Jeanine and a loving father to his five children. His grandson, Jonah, held a special and cherished place in his heart." A visitation will be held at 10am on Friday, September 11, at Chippewa Lutheran Church, followed by a funeral service at 11am. The Mirror has contacted Princess Cruises for comment.