Man suffering a heart attack told to "get back to work"

A seaman serving aboard a tugboat informed his captain he was having a heart attack, but Anthony King was told "to go back to work." He is suing Frazier Inland Marine, Inc. for failing to provide him with necessary medical care.

According to King's personal injury lawsuit, filed with the Jefferson County District Court on May 10, he entered into a contract with the defendant to work as seaman aboard a vessel transporting petroleum products at a salary of $4,200 for 21 days on June 1, 2005.

"On Nov. 3, 2006, at 1 p.m. Plaintiff began having chest pains," the suit said. "Because he had experienced a heart attack three years earlier, King recognized the symptoms and reported to the ship's captain," where he was "instructed to by Capt. Matt Frazier to get back to work."

King managed to call his wife before his condition became unmanageable and told her the ship was in the locks of Calcasieu, La. His wife than proceeded to call the captain and told him to go and assist her husband, the suit said.

King's wife drove three hours to meet him in Louisiana. "When she arrived, she personally had to get him off the boat and to the doctor, the suit said. "The hospital informed him that he had indeed suffered a heart attack."

Surgery was performed to correct the blocked artery, the suit said.

He claims the plaintiff failed to provide him with reasonable care, refused to call an ambulance or assist him in anyway.

King is suing for the defendant's conduct, physical pain, mental anguish, medical care and loss of earning capacity.

He is represented by the Port Neches law firm Wright & Pitre.

Court assignment is pending.

Case No. D179-285