Crew member on board the Ruby Princess issues desperate plea for help after being diagnosed with coronavirus as the stranded ship runs out of medical supplies and staff say the 'situation is getting worse'
- A group of Irish performers are trapped on the doomed Ruby Princess cruise
- One has tested positive for coronavirus, but medical supplies are running low
- The coronavirus-riddled ship has been ordered to leave NSW waters on Sunday
- But at least 140 members of staff on board are currently battling the coronavirus
- They fear 'serious illness and complications' if the boat sets sail this weekend
- A fiasco in March saw 700 coronavirus-infected passengers leave the ship
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
Desperate crew members aboard the coronavirus-riddled Ruby Princess cruise ship have issued a plea for help, with the ship fast running out of medical supplies.
One Irish performer, Giselle O'Meara, told followers she had tested positive for the deadly COVID-19, and was quarantined on the doomed ship without a single ventilator.
Having become the centre of a scandal in which 700 passengers with coronavirus were allowed to leave the ship in Sydney, with 1,040 crew left on board.
A group of Irish performers are now pleading for help, saying the ship is fast running out of medical supplies - accusing officials of using them as 'pawns in a political game'.
New South Wales police commissioner Mick Fuller has ordered the Ruby Princess to leave Port Kembla in Woolongong on Sunday.
But the group of performers, known as the 'Emerald Tide' said they have no idea where the ship will head, and are concerned that very few staff have been tested.
Giselle O'Meara (pictured) is a performer on the Ruby Princess cruise ship - but has been struck down by COVID-19
NSW Police are seen in front of the Ruby Princess in Port Kembla on Tuesday (pictured) after it launched its own criminal inquiry
So far, around 140 crew members have tested positive for the deadly respiratory infection, with 12 more having already been taken to Australian hospitals.
The fearful crew said there are only two doctors and three nurses on board, with not a single ventilator.
Singer Joe Junker said he fears 'serious illnesses and complications' if the crew are sent out to sea with little medical assistance available.
One of the group, Ms O'Meara said she had found the diagnosis 'daunting' but felt she was 'on the road to recovery'.
The Ruby Princess is seen docked at Port Kembla, 80km south of Sydney, on April 12 (pictured)
Giselle O'Meara (pictured) is in isolation aboard the doomed Ruby Princess cruise ship, which has been ordered to leave NSW on Sunday
'Unfortunately today I was given the news that I was tested positive for COVID-19,' she said in an online video.
'Although this seems daunting to hear, I believe I am over the worst of it and I'm on the road to recovery.
'I am lucky to have only had a few symptoms - loss of taste and smell and slightly fatigued.
'I've had worse colds to be honest, but today I am gaining my senses back and I feel my energy levels are back to normal.'
Personal trainer Byron Sodani from Italy said he has not yet displayed any symptoms, but also hasn't been tested.
A petition on change.org is asking for the crew to be repatriated to Ireland, claiming sick crew members were being 'neglected' in Australia.
A petition on change.org is asking for the Irish crew members to be repatriated, and has received 2,406 signatures so far (pictured)
Hundreds of holidaymakers can be seen crammed together applauding the staff from the gold-trimmed staircase on board the Ruby Princess, unaware of the fact coronavirus had already made its way onto the liner
Giselle O'Meara (pictured) is one of around 140 Ruby Princess crew members who have tested positive for COVID-19
'The Ruby Princess have a large number of sick crew members and are being neglected by the authorities,' the petition, created by someone in Ireland, read.
'They have been instructed that they will not be allowed to port in Australia and are stranded aboard a ship with over 1,000 other crew many of whom have contracted COVID-19.
'They have insufficient medical equipment and personnel on-board to deal with the crisis. The situation is getting worse.
'We need your support to raise awareness of their current situation and get the repatriated home safely to their families as soon as possible.
Byron Sodani (pictured) is also stuck on the Ruby Princess, and has been in isolation for 26 days as of Thursday
'I would greatly appreciate your help with this matter, we need to help our fellow citizens in need.
A Princess Cruises spokesman said the company's focus on was the crew's health and wellbeing, and vowed to 'not let them down'.
'Our priority is looking after our crew and getting them home,' he said.
'To this end we are working with a number of federal and state agencies.
'Caring for the day to day needs of our crew is fundamental and we will not let them down.
Giselle O'Meara (pictured) is a performer on the Ruby Princess cruise ship, and has tested positive for the coronavirus
'The crew are also subject to wonderful emotional support from the people of the Illawarra and organisations such as the Mission to Seafarers headed by their Port Kembla chaplain John Kewa.'
Speaking to the Irish Times to beg for help, Mr Junker accused politicians of using the ship's crew as 'pawns in a political battle'.
'Throughout all this we have had no clue about what was going on and relying on social media and news to keep us informed with no information at all about when we will be going home,' he said.
'Me and my band mates feel as though we're hostages or pawns in this political battle which is not one of our making. We feel powerless in this situation.'
The luxury liner, which departed Sydney on March 8 and returned on March 19, is linked to 18 of Australia's coronavirus deaths (pictured at Port Kembla on April 6)
An criminal investigation is now looking into how passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney (pictured, police in protective gear going onto the ship on April 8)
The Ruby Princess fiasco sparked a bitter blame game between NSW Health officials and the Border Force, who both said the other had given clearance for it to dock.
It was recently revealed that the Ruby Princess issued an urgent mayday call for an ambulance for two of its passengers presenting with coronavirus-like symptoms.
This was 24 hours before the ship was allowed to dock in Sydney, but it was still allowed to unload its passengers in Circular Quay.
The government had announced a 30-day ban on cruise arrivals just the day before.
Even the two Australian passengers who were presenting signs of 'upper respiratory tract infections' were allowed to leave the ship before their test results were known.
Giselle O'Meara (pictured) had been enjoying her life peforming on the Ruby Princess cruise ship before the coronavirus pandemic
It comes after a shocking picture showed passengers crammed together on the ship, not knowing that coronavirus was spreading between them.
Hundreds of well-dressed passengers on board the luxury cruise are seen crammed together as they applaud staff.
There were unaware that coronavirus had already made its way onto the liner - likely through a crew member working in the kitchen - and was spreading like wildfire.
NSW Police Commissioner Fuller said: 'We are working with Carnival Cruises and Border Force and NSW Health and Aspen (Medical) looking for a hopeful departure date of this Sunday.
'(As for the ship) they will need fuel, they will need provisions and the required amount of crew members, including the captain.'
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