BA passenger becomes unresponsive during flight and is pronounced dead shortly after arrival; foul play not suspected

Investigations are underway into the sudden death of a 29-year-old
who fell ill on an international flight to Antigua and Barbuda;
however, foul play is not suspected.

Reports say the young man became unresponsive on a British
Airways flight here. Upon landing at the V.C. Bird International
Airport, the passenger was immediately transported to the Sir
Lester Bird Medical Centre by the Emergency Medical Services and
was treated in the Emergency Room.

However, efforts to revive him proved futile, and the unnamed man
was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m. The Police were notified of the
death by a hospital doctor, who contacted the Criminal
Investigations Department.

When officers visited the hospital to conduct inquiries, they
reportedly found no marks of violence on the body of the British
citizen.

According to reports, however, the man’s 65-year-old mother told
the Police that her son had been diagnosed with hypotension, DM
Type 1, and ulcerative colitis for which he had been hospitalized on
many different occasions.

During an interview conducted by the Police, they learned that the
woman and her son had been in St. Kitts and Nevis; and, while there,
the young man had fallen ill and been hospitalized. 

Reportedly, he had spent five days in the Intensive Care Unit of the
Joseph N. France General Hospital, where he was further diagnosed
with sepsis and blood poisoning. He had received IV fluid,
antibiotics and insulin as treatment, the mother said. 

According to the mother, the young man had become dehydrated
and was losing weight rapidly. She said he also had a habit of
discharging himself from various hospitals, the most recent being
the one in St. Kitts and Nevis. 

Coroner Joanne Walsh was informed of the man’s death and gave
permission for the body to be removed to Barnes Funeral Home for
storage, on request of the family.