Passenger dies in UK hospital after medevac from Oriana in Oman following heartattack

**Ally** · 04-26-2007, 09:00 AM

ISABEL Booth, wife of a former Editor of the Herts Advertiser, has died in Watford General Hospital.

She and her husband Alan were on the last stages of a world cruise when she was taken ill and treated in the medical centre of the P&O cruise liner Oriana. She was found to have suffered a heart attack, followed by a stroke.

The ship had just left Dubai and the next morning she and her husband were taken off the ship at Muscat in Oman. She was taken to the Royal Hospital in a critical condition. She was treated in intensive care and was conscious and able to talk.

It took several days to make arrangements for her return to England by air ambulance, a journey which took 10 hours, with two refuelling stops. After arrival at Luton Airport, she was admitted to the intensive care unit at Watford General Hospital. She died a week later.

"Isabel had suffered a fractured hip 18 months earlier and the cruise was to help complete her recovery and give us both rest and relaxation," said Mr Booth.

"Indeed it had turned out that way as we never went on trips ashore, just took things quietly. I had planned a celebration on March 26, her 87th birthday, and we were looking forward to a special dinner at a new restaurant on the ship when she collapsed in our cabin. The ship's doctor and his staff treated her all night but the doctor said it was vital she had specialist hospital care and treatment.

"I can't praise enough the constant attention she received at the Royal Hospital with a doctor who was so caring. He has phoned me since from Muscat to offer his sympathy. At Watford too, the doctors and nurses were superb.

"Being taken ashore in a foreign country and having to leave all our belongings on the ship was a daunting experience but by one of those quirks of fate we found English friends."

When Mr Booth moved from Stockport with his wife to join the Herts Advertiser in 1958, two members of the editorial staff were Beryl Carrington and her nephew, Richard. He left the paper to go into public relations, working abroad and finally settling in Muscat, heading a company from which he has retired. "Through the British Embassy I was put in touch with Richard and he and his wife Angela and daughter Louise gave me great help at a difficult time, as did P&O's port agents in arranging our return," said Mr Booth. "I'm also grateful to Phyllis Haveron, a member of the consulate, for her great support during this time.

"It was a sad ending to our cruise and as well as her birthday, Isabel and I had been looking forward to celebrating our 67th wedding anniversary in July."

Mrs Booth was a former member of the ladies section of Verulam Golf Club, to which her husband also belonged. When Mr Booth retired from the Herts Advertiser in 1975 and turned to golf reporting, she accompanied him to every Open Championship and Ryder Cup matches in this country. She was a founder member of a branch of the Townswomen's Guild and former treasurer.

The couple lived for many years at Westminster Court, St Albans, before moving to Chorleywood. They moved to a new home in Garston about one year ago.

The funeral will be at West Herts Crematorium on Friday, May 4, at 2.20pm. No flowers by request but donations to the RNIB.