Scottish Catholic Observer

Croatian Zlatko Kosack, 50, was badly burned while working in a confined space on an oil tanker in Grangemouth towards the end of January.

He was burned from the waist down and required a skin graft operation in Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary.

Joe O’Donnell, a chaplain in Clydeport for Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), began assisting Mr Kosack after he received a phone call from the harbour master informing him that the Croatian engineer had been transferred to hospital.

When Mr Kosack’s wife Vesna struggled with accommodation while worrying about her husband, Deacon O’Donnell and AoS arranged a suitable place for her to stay.

When Mr Kosack’s body began rejecting his hospital food, Joe arranged for Vesna to use the cooking facilities at nearby St Mungo’s Church in Townhead on a daily basis.

Touched by the help she received, Vesna expressed her thanks for AoS’ support and offered to volunteer for the ­charity in the future. Vesna said: “Joe has done so much for us during our time in Scotland. He has been with us every step of the way since my husband entered hospital.

“Every day without fail, he picked me up from the hotel where I was staying before taking me to the supermarket and then up to St Mungo’s [Church] where I could cook Zlatko’s meals.

“He has been there for us in such a huge way that we would both love to try and give something back to AoS by volunteering in some way when everything is back to normal.”

Mr Kosack, who turned 50 only last week, enjoyed a surprise birthday celebration while still in hospital where the Hadjuk Split fan was presented with a signed artist’s portrait of former Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Mr Kosack took time to offer his heart-felt gratitude to Mr O’Donnell and AoS for their care and attention during his traumatic three-week spell.

He said: “It’s something you never really expect to happen when you’re so far away from home. But Vesna and I have had to deal with the unexpected and without Joe’s assistance it would have been extremely difficult.

“We have been shown so much generosity and certainly didn’t expect this marvellous birthday present.

“I am a big ­football fan and it’s safe to say will be looking out for Celtic’s results every week from on.”

The experienced seafarer has now travelled back to his native homeland along with his wife, and is convalescing in a hospital in the Croatian capital of Zagreb where it’s expected he’ll take between eight and 12 months to recovery fully.

Mr O’Donnell, who also covers Greenock, Leith, Hunterston and Troon, said: “We’re really just doing what we’re here to do and helping this lovely couple was the main thing all along.

“We’re very grateful to Fr Frank Keevins of St Mungo’s, Fr Gareth and all parishioners for showing their kindness and understanding.

“This is precisely why we exist as a charity, to offer such help and support when seafarers need it most, often thousands of miles from their home like Zlatko and Vesna.”