Travel insurer to probe death

By JO-MARIE BROWN

American Express will investigate the death of a New Zealander in Egypt from meningococcal septicaemia after his friends spent 25 hours pleading with the travel insurer to organise medical help.

Architect John Fitzgerald, aged 28, lost his 50-hour battle against the deadly bacterial disease last Saturday in an air ambulance on its way to Austria - a last-ditch effort to save his life.

But Mr Fitzgerald's family and friends are angry that it took so long for adequate medical help to arrive.

Longtime friend and travelling companion Dan Popham said the air ambulance arranged by American Express was several hours late in arriving because the flight had not been organised properly.

"It took about 25 hours from the first call to Amex for them to get there and pick him up."

Mr Popham said calls were made to the travel insurer and various embassies from Mr Fitzgerald's friends and family in Egypt, Paris, London and New Zealand - to no avail.

"We couldn't have had much more support really and still that wasn't enough."

American Express spokesman Mark Reynolds said the company was deeply concerned about the events surrounding Mr Fitzgerald's death.

"We have launched an internal investigation to ascertain the full details of American Express' involvement and to confirm that all possible steps were taken in the circumstances."

Mr Reynolds said he was making inquiries overseas as Mr Fitzgerald was not registered as having been a New Zealand customer.

Mr Popham and his wife, Dr Sandra Bennett, were also angry at Egyptian doctors who had dismissed their opinion that Mr Fitzgerald had meningococcal septicaemia.

"Sandra was completely running the case because no doctors would do anything, so she was putting in the IV lines and doing all the care, basically."

Mr Popham said Mr Fitzgerald's body was due to be flown home to New Zealand from Austria yesterday.

Other family members, who had travelled to London for a memorial service, would arrive home tomorrow.

Mr Fitzgerald's funeral will be held in Manakau, near Levin, next week.