BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

A longshoreman, who is a also a Tampa minister, was killed and another man injured in an industrial accident Tuesday afternoon. The accident took place aboard a ship docked in the Port of Tampa.

According to the Tampa Fire Rescue, the call for help was received at 3:56 p.m., Tuesday. Fire crews responded to 2150 Guy N. Verger, after being notified that men were trapped in one of the hatches on a ship.

Some employees were able to get out of the hatch after a strap broke and the pipes fell. However, Elder Hercules Gilmore, 56, and Andre Futrell, 50, were trapped.

Futrell suffered an injured leg and underwent surgery. He is listed in fair condition at a local hospital. He has been a longshoreman with ILA 1402 since the early 2000s. When contacted by the Sentinel, Futrell declined comment, stating that he was reflecting on the loss of Elder Gilmore.

A resident of St. Petersburg, Elder Gilmore died at the scene. According to the website of Divine Worship House of God, Inc.,  Elder Gilmore was a member of House of God, an affiliate of the House of God International. However, the church underwent a separation. The remaining members reorganized and changed its name to Divine Worship in April 2009.

In July 2009, Elder Gilmore was appointed pastor of the church. Under his leadership, the church became incorporated as Divine Worship House of God, Inc.

James Harrell, President of the (ILA) International Longshoreman’s Association, Local 1402 said, the men had just started their shift at 3 p.m. The accident happened less than an hour later.

“This is very dangerous work. The guys load and unload these ships and the hatches are 60 feet deep or more. The District and OSHA are investigating the accident,” he said.

Harrell said Robert Dixon was killed in an accident at the Port of Manatee in May.

Larry Coleman, Vice President of the ILA said, “One of the nylon straps broke causing the steel pipes to fall. Some of them fell on the dock, some fell on the ship, and some fell in the hole where the men were working. From that point, we really don’t know what transpired.”

Coleman said both men are union members in good standing.

Funeral services for Elder Gilmore were incomplete as of press time.