Dear friends and colleagues, we lost another fellow crew member. It’s a sad day for all of us when we heard the news about the death of Bendie Antonio, a Filipino crew member of Costa Cruises. Bendie was taken off the cruise ship Costa Fascinosa and transferred to a hospital in Santos, Brazil, together with nine of his fellow crew members who tested positive for the virus. Bendie Antonio, age 42, died on April 19, from complications caused by the coronavirus, thousands of miles away from his family in the Philippines.

Many of his friends and colleagues expressed their sadness and sincere condolences to the family.

These are some of the messages they shred:

"Brother Bendie Antonio goodbye, we feel it's hard to be far from the family. Despite this we endure everything, sleepless, body pain, just to earn money. To your family Sincerely Our condolences. May you be with our Lord. Let's offer a prayer for our colleague friend who passed away. BENDIE ANTONIO. Costa family" a fellow crew member wrote his final farewell on the social media.

Bendie close friend and colleague expressed his deepest condolences writing "God Bless Your Brother Bendie. One of our Financial Educator and my colleague from Costa Cruise Line Bendie Antonio has gone too soon due to COVID. In this sorrowful time, we would like to extend to you our heartfelt condolences. May our Lord comfort you and your loved ones.

Rest In Peace Brother Bendie, You Did a Great Job while you are passing here on earth. Indeed you did helped a lot of Families and your family, you leave a Legacy here brother. GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL FOREVER."

Bendie Antonio was a long term Costa Cruises employee, he was working in the Dining Room department aboard Costa Fascinosa as a waiter. He is the second Costa Fascinosa crew member to die after testing positive for the coronavirus.

The ship's Doctor, Paolo Mudano, age 69, died on April 15, in a hospital in Santos. Doctor Mudano, from Genoa, Italy was medically evacuated from Costa Fascinosa on April 5, after presenting severe respiratory symptoms. He was immediately transferred by an ambulance to a hospital to undergo necessary tests and treatments. The following day, he had to be sent to the intensive care unit and was placed on mechanical ventilation.