Blood-clot passenger 'was too ill to fly'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man who is critically ill in Majorca after developing a blood clot in his leg should not have flown to the holiday island, his package tour company said yesterday.
First Choice Holidays said Gary Gibson, 37, who has a congenital heart condition and wears a pacemaker, was at high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, the so-called economy class syndrome.
Mr Gibson had surgery to remove a clot from his right leg on 2 December – the day before he had been due to fly home from a week-long winter break. The Briton, who has five children, has since developed serious complications, including pneumonia and kidney failure. Doctors are understood to have said his chances of survival are slim.
His wife, Lillian, was at the family home in south Glasgow last night after being forced to fly home because she had run out of money. The couple did not have travel insurance. She said: "I just want to be by his side. The thought of him in a hospital bed all alone in a foreign country is tearing me up."
First Choice said that if it had been aware Mr Gibson had a history of poor health, it would have advised him not to travel. The company said it did not know whether the flight had caused the blood clot.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments