A British man died after catching norovirus on a cruise ship where nearly 100 passengers fell ill.
Alan Forster, 77, ‘couldn’t wait to board’ the P&O Arcadia at Southampton for a month-long holiday with his wife Dianna, 79, last September 3.
Dianna said: ‘Alan was the most loving husband and dad. We were looking forward to many more years together but that’s been taken away in the cruellest of ways.’
The couple’s 48th cruise would take them across the Atlantic Ocean to New York and back. But Alan fell ill two weeks in, DevonLive reports.
Norovirus – the ‘vomiting bug’ – was spreading through the vessel, infecting nearly 100 people on board, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed.
Alan, a father of two and grandad to four, was confined to his cabin with diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Then his kidneys started failing.
Upon reaching St John’s, in Newfoundland, Canada, Alan was hospitalised and put on a drip, but he died in October.
‘Every day since then has been filled with grief and pain’, his wife Dianna said.
‘I still can’t – and don’t want to – accept my beloved husband is gone. It was me who wanted to go on the cruise. I blame myself. If it wasn’t for me, he’d still be here.’
Dianna wonders if something could have been done to prevent the outbreak and Alan’s death.
She said he was only taken to the medical centre after his symptoms became critical. However, P&O claims medical care was given on board until Alan’s health declines.
The 77-year-old said: ‘There were announcements that there was norovirus on the ship, so we suspected it must be that and he would get any medical help he needed.
‘It took many long and traumatic days of being quarantined in our room for the nurses to come and see Alan, and even then they didn’t do anything outside of lifting him back into bed.
‘I tried to raise the alarm several times but I was shouted at and told to get back into my room.’
Jatinder Paul, a specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the family, said: ‘Following an outbreak of norovirus it’s vital that investigations are carried out on the failings on board the cruise ship as well as the delays with getting Alan the medical treatment he needed.
‘While there’s nothing that can change what happened, we’re now investigating and are determined to get Dianna, John and Iain the answers they deserve.’
A spokesperon for P&O Cruises said: ‘We were saddened to receive a letter from solicitors informing us of the death of Mr Forster and making a claim for compensation.
‘An initial review shows medical care was given on board until Mr Forster’s health declined, at which point he was promptly transferred to hospital.
‘We will investigate the matters alleged and respond as appropriate to the solicitors once the investigation has been completed.’
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