An oil tanker with a sick crew member diverted to Bermuda at the weekend for urgent medical assistance — but the sailor died before the ship got to the island.

The Department of Marine and Port Services said the Maltese-registered tanker Seatrust turned towards the island on Saturday after a crew member suffered a suspected stroke.

The ship, en route from Cartagena, Spain, to Corpus Cristi, Texas, was 285 miles east of Bermuda when it was forced to alter course.

A marine and port services spokesman said: “RCC Bermuda were connected into a conference call and, following medical advice from the US Coast Guard, the tanker diverted. On Sunday, a few hours before arrival, the sick crew member’s condition deteriorated and sadly, he died.”

The body of the crew member was transferred to the pilot boat St David and brought to shore to be repatriated.