Three Pinoy workers hurt in US oil rig blast to be discharged

Three Filipino workers injured in an oil rig blast and fire off the Gulf of Mexico last Nov. 16 will get to spend Christmas with their families, after the hospital where they were confined declared them ready for discharge.

 

Citing information from the Baton Rouge General Hospital, the Philippine Embassy in Washington said the condition of the three had "significantly improved" and the three may be discharged by Monday, Christmas Eve.

 

“We are heartened to know that our three kababayans are recovering remarkably well and will be able to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones,” Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr. said.

 

He thanked the doctors, nurses, therapists and the staff at Baton Rouge General "for making this holiday season meaningful for the three patients and their families.”

 

A news release of the embassy identified two of the three as offshore oil workers Renato Dominguez and Wilberto Ilagan. A third worker had declined to be named.

 

The three had been undergoing treatment at the Regional Burn Center of Baton Rouge since last month’s accident that claimed the lives of three other Filipino co-workers.

 

Not yet coming home

 

But the embassy quoted family members of the three as saying the three are not expected to immediately return to the Philippines as they still have to undergo therapy in the US.

 

“We are inspired by the progress they have made in the last few weeks and all are in good condition,” said Dr. Jeffrey Littleton, Burn Surgeon and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Baton Rouge General.

 

Of the three injured workers, Dominguez is expected to be the first to be discharged. Dominguez was the last to be recovered from the accident site and was previously in the hospital’s critical list.

 

“The physicians and staff at Baton Rouge General are my family.  I am very grateful to each of them for their caring and kindness,” said Dominguez.

 

Overjoyed

 

Bill Holman, Baton Rouge General Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, said hospital staff are overjoyed that the three will be spending the holidays with their families.

 

“It has been our privilege to care for them – and even though they will travel 10,000 miles across the globe to get back home, our hearts will remain with them and all the families and loved ones of their fellow co-workers and countrymen,” Holman said.  — ELR, GMA News