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Man's cruise death puzzling

The Tarpon man died on a ship racked by a virus, though twice cleared by its infirmary.

By DEMORRIS A. LEE
Published November 22, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT Martha and David Fitzgerald

A 76-year-old Tarpon Springs man died aboard the Carnival Liberty cruise ship during a trans-Atlantic journey in which a norovirus outbreak sickened 679 passengers and crew with diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and faintness.

Now David Lee Fitzgerald's family wants answers.

"We would like to know exactly what happened to him," Fitzgerald's daughter, Susan Lyster, said Tuesday. "All we know is that he went to the infirmary three times with vomiting and diarrhea. We know he had a virus and he died. We don't know the cause of death."

Fitzgerald was one of two passengers who died during the ill-fated cruise, according to the cruise line. The second, whose name was not released because of privacy restrictions, appeared to have died because of heart-related problems, Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said Tuesday.

Fitzgerald died on Nov. 10, seven days into a 16-day journey that began in Rome.

Determination of the cause of death is pending, according to the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office. Broward coroners conducted an autopsy Monday, a day after the ship docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, but it could take up to three months for all tests to be complete.

The Carnival spokeswoman said in an e-mail that the norovirus had nothing to do with Fitzgerald's death.

"This individual had pre-existing medical conditions, including heart-related issues, which, in the opinion of our medical staff, was a primary factor in his death," De la Cruz said.

Martha Fitzgerald, who was on the cruise with her husband and two other family members, said her husband had past heart trouble, but before the cruise, he had gotten "a clean bill of health" from his doctor.

"His cardiologist said, 'Go. Just take your pills,' " Mrs. Fitzgerald said. "And he took his pills, even when he was in the infirmary."

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is sometimes referred to as the "24-hour stomach bug."

While most people stricken by it get better in a day or two and have no long-term health effects, some patients cannot replace the liquids lost through vomiting and diarrhea, according to the centers. They may need special attention for dehydration, a problem usually seen among the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

In a statement Tuesday, Carnival said it "had been working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control since the early part of that voyage and a team from the CDC boarded the ship during the cruise." Carnival said the investigation is ongoing and "it has been determined that several guests were ill with Norovirus just prior to boarding the ship in Rome."

Once back in Florida, the ship was scrubbed under the centers' supervision before heading out for another cruise Tuesday.

* * *

The cruise set sail from Rome Nov. 3. There, the Fitzgeralds met up with David Fitzgerald's brother, Fred, and Fred's wife, Bonnie, from Arizona. Martha Fitzgerald said she became ill on the first day of travel.

"I got it first," she said. "I got sick and had to be quarantined for 24 hours. I was okay after that but then he David Fitzgerald got it on Nov. 7."

Mrs. Fitzgerald said her husband was vomiting and had diarrhea. He reported to the infirmary and was given antibiotics and medication and quarantined for 24 hours. He returned to good health and was cleared by the medical staff, she said.

But later in the day on Nov. 8, the vomiting and diarrhea started again, Mrs. Fitzgerald said.

Her husband was admitted to the infirmary again, given another shot and released again, she said. But about 11 p.m. on Nov. 9, she said the vomiting started again and he was admitted to the infirmary for a third time. Blood work was done and he was given an I.V. She said he was dehydrated and weak.

Because they were nearing Portugal, Mrs. Fitzgerald said she was told her husband was going to be taken to a hospital and stabilized and then flown back to the United States once the ship docked.

"About 2 a.m., they came and told me that he didn't make it," Mrs. Fitzgerald said. "They asked me if I wanted to go see his body. Of course I did."

Mrs. Fitzgerald and Fred and Bonnie Fitzgerald were flown back to Tampa by Carnival. David Fitzgerald's body remained on the ship until it docked Sunday.

"He died in international waters and the medical examiner from Portugal said it could be weeks, maybe months before I could get his body so it was best that he stay on the cruise until Nov. 19," Mrs. Fitzgerald said.

David Fitzgerald moved to Florida 28 years ago after being relocated by United Airlines, where he worked in customer service before retiring. His daughter, Susan Lyster, said he had an outstanding sense of humor and a very quick wit.

"He used to hate to go shopping, so he would do whatever he could to make it fun," Lyster said. "He'd see little kids in the shopping carts and would say to them 'I get to push the cart! I get to push the cart!' "

Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Demorris A. Lee can be reached at (727) 445-4174 or dalee@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 22, 2006, 00:08:33]