A Minnesota pastor has died after suffering a devastating spinal cord injury aboard a cruise ship while traveling in Italy to celebrate his son’s wedding.

Stephen “Steve” Junker, 58, was aboard the Sun Princess on Aug. 16 when he fell and was later found face down and unresponsive in the ship’s pool, according to a GoFundMe created by his family.

Relatives said Junker “nearly drowned” and suffered a severe spinal cord injury during the horrifying incident.

The Italian Coast Guard rushed him to a hospital in Naples, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator.

Doctors determined Junker had suffered severe compression of his spinal cord at the C3-C4 level of his neck. He underwent emergency spinal surgery the following day.

His family said doctors warned that if Junker survived, he would likely be quadriplegic.

His condition was further complicated by a multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection discovered in his lungs, which relatives said was likely connected to the near-drowning.

Junker was eventually transported back to the United States and treated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as his family continued hoping doctors could save him.

But further testing revealed injuries that could not be treated.

Junker died on Sept. 4 surrounded by his family and friends.

“At 6:33 PM today, Steve went to be with Jesus. He was surrounded by his wife, children, parents, and friends,” his family wrote in an update to the fundraiser.

“Further diagnostic testing had revealed injuries that were not treatable.”

The family thanked the medical team at Mayo Clinic and everyone who donated to help cover the enormous costs associated with Junker’s treatment and transportation.

“We’re glad we were able to give him the opportunity to receive world-class care and reassured that everything that could possibly be done to help him was done,” they wrote.

The fundraiser had surpassed its $30,000 goal, bringing in nearly $35,000.

Princess Cruises has been contacted for comment about the incident.

Junker spent years serving as a Lutheran pastor at Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota, but his career initially took a very different path.

After earning a pharmacy degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, he worked as a pharmacist before attending Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and entering the ministry.

According to his obituary, Junker became known for his “animated sermons,” his love of long conversations and his willingness to help people whenever they needed him.

He was also remembered as the kind of man who seemed to always have the right tool tucked into his pockets when someone needed a hand.

Junker is survived by his wife, children, grandson, parents, sister and numerous other relatives and friends.

A visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Chippewa Lutheran Church, followed by his funeral service at 11 a.m.