Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Saturday, 18 July 2015
BA crew dies
British Airways stewardess dies after catching deadly malaria following long-haul flight
The woman became ill after working on a long haul flight from Heathrow to Ghana’s capital Accra
A British Airways steward has died after catching malaria in Africa.
The woman became ill after working on a long haul flight from Heathrow to Ghana’s capital Accra.
She is believed to have been staying at a hotel in the city with other BA cabin crew members when she started showing signs of the disease.
A major internal investigation is under way into how the woman - who has not been named - contracted the illness.
All BA air crew flying to the West African country are given anti malarial tablets and medical advice about how to protect themselves while working abroad.
One source said: “It’s obviously devastating for her family and all who knew her.
“There is huge concern about cabin and flight crew flying to Ghana after such a tragic incident.
“We are hoping that all safety measures are now taken to makes sure it does not happen again.”
BA refused to discuss details of the tragedy - which happened earlier this month - for reasons of “confidentiality”.
The airline employs around 14,000 cabin crew worldwide, most of them based at Heathrow.
A BA spokeswoman said last night: “We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of our colleague.
“The safety of our colleagues and customers is our top priority.
“Cabin crew are given top strength repellent and fully briefed every time they fly into a malarial area in order to give them the best protection.
“Medication is available to those who wish to use it, either before they fly or when they are at their destination.
“We check our hotels and transportation to minimise the chance of contact with mosquitos.”
It comes six years after an cabin crew member died from malaria after working on a BA flight from Heathrow to Ghana. Two more became ill after flying to other destinations.
Malaria is contracted when a bite from a female mosquito carring the malaria parasite is released into the bloodstream.
It multiplies in the liver before re-entering the bloodstream to attack the red blood cells. Half a million people die every year from the disease in Africa.
The majority of fatalities in the UK caused by malaria are from the plasmodium falciparum species of parasite, transmitted by mosquitoes, which is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sufferers become ill very rapidly, and without treatment can suffer multiple organ failure and die.
About 2,000 Britons return to the UK every year having contracted malaria.
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Such hypocrits...... aircrew are dying through lack of duty of care!!!
Toxic air syndrome may have claimed life of BA steward: Parents say second post-mortem found levels of specific toxins linked to condition in son's body
- Matthew Bass died suddenly at colleague’s house in Slough aged 35
- His parents paid for second test, which 'revealed specific toxins in body'
- Breathing in organophosphates is believed to lead to Aerotoxic Syndrome
- But coroner wants more analysis, saying 'there are other possible causes'
British Airways steward: Matthew Bass, of Clapham, south-west London, died suddenly at a colleague’s house in Slough in January last year aged 35
A long-serving British Airways steward may have died from toxic air syndrome, a coroner indicated yesterday.
Matthew Bass, of Clapham, south-west London, who also worked for easyJet during a 15-year career, died suddenly at a colleague’s house in Slough, Berkshire, in January last year aged 35.
After an initial post-mortem examination failed to find a cause of death, Mr Bass’s parents paid for a second test in the Netherlands.
This, they said, revealed the presence of specific toxins in their son’s body.
The toxins, organophosphates, are found in substances such as aeroplane engine oil. When the oil is heated, the toxins are released and can then enter a plane’s cabin.
Breathing in organophosphates is said to lead to long-term health problems, which have been grouped under the term ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome’.
Harry Steinberg, representing the Bass family, argued that the toxins were responsible for Mr Bass’s death.
He said: ‘I accept that further investigation is needed into this death but British Airways is saying Aerotoxic Syndrome does not exist, simply because the family want these matters investigated.
'There is already a large body of scientific opinion that this is a very real and present problem.
'Organophosphate exposure damages the peripheral and central nervous system and has a detrimental effect on the respiratory system.
‘Mr Bass's injuries were a clear result of organophosphate-induced poisoning and this death arose from the failures of British Airways and the Civil Aviation Authority.’
Workplace: Mr Bass, whose family are from Teignmouth, Devon, also worked for easyJet in a 15-year career
Investigation: Mr Bass (pictured left with his mother, whose name is unknown). After an initial post-mortem examination failed to find a cause of death, Mr Bass’s parents paid for a second test in the Netherlands
But BA lawyer David Platt insisted there is ‘no evidence that Aerotoxic Syndrome even exists’, adding: ‘No health agencies and no governments are accepting this exists. It must be seen as a highly controversial assumption to make.’
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Despite his protests, Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford told the preliminary inquest in Reading that a previous investigation, upheld by the High Court in New South Wales, Australia, ‘outlined the respiratory effects of organophosphate poisoning’.
The coroner also heard how Mr Bass’s death bore resemblance to that of BA pilot Richard Westgate, who is also believed to have suffered the effects of breathing in organophosphates prior to his death in 2012.
Mr Bedford said: ‘The deaths are significant in that... they both worked for British Airways and both would have come into contact with cabin air in their duties, but there are still other possible causes.’
He added: ‘I am struggling to find compelling evidence that Mr Bass did not die from a relatively simple and straightforward cause such as aspirational pneumonia as a result of mixing alcohol and anti-histamine medication.’
He said further analysis would be required before the inquest into the death of Mr Bass, whose family are from Teignmouth, Devon, could be concluded.
Matthew Bass was laid to rest at his brother Charlie's home in Finland in April 2014, so he could be near his nephews Eliel and Axel, to whom he was close. A BA spokesman declined to comment.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3163452/Toxic-air-syndrome-claimed-life-BA-steward-Parents-say-second-post-mortem-levels-specific-toxins-linked-condition-son-s-body.html#ixzz3g6OChcok
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