25/06/2008

British Tourist Dies In Suspected Food Poisoning

A British tourist has died with suspected food poisoning at a hotel in northern Italy.

Geoffrey Appleyard, 71, from Evesham, Worcestershire died in the early hours of Sunday.

His next of kin have been informed and a post mortem is being held.

Mr Appleyard was treated by paramedics in his hotel room after becoming ill, but died shortly afterwards.

It is reported that around 30 others are ill in the possible salmonella outbreak at the four-star Grand Hotel Gardone on Lake Garda.

A Foreign Office spokesman in London said they believe there is "around 30 British nationals involved" and are "unable to confirm the death of a British national".

It is understood that 16 of the tourists are being treated in hospitals around Brescia.

They have been suffering vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration.

The British Consul in Milan says that the sick are not thought to be in any further danger.

Spokesperson for the Consul, Stephen Anderson said that "it is too early to say if her husband's death is directly linked to the incident".

It is believed that they were part of a group of 300 people staying at the hotel - once a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill.

An inquiry has been launched into the incident. Health officials say they suspect the fish that guests were served are still analysing samples taken from the kitchen, which has been closed pending further investigations.

It is also reported that a post mortem is due to be carried out on another victim, a 75-year-old British tourist who died at the weekend in the same hotel although his death has not been linked to the food poisoning outbreak.

Salmonella causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and foodborne illness.

(DS)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

30 August 2004
Two British tourists die in Oz plane crash
Two British tourists have been killed after their private plane came down shortly after take-off from an exclusive holiday resort in northern Australia. The couple, who are believed to be in their 60s, died instantly when their Cessna 421 aircraft came down and exploded close to the El Questro wilderness park, where they had been staying.
09 March 2011
Major UK Studios Fund British Films
Film and Television Studios Group Pinewood Shepperton have announced plans to provide funding for smaller British film productions.
10 September 2007
Brown To Unveil Plan To Create 500,000 Jobs
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to unveil plans to create half a million new jobs in an effort to have "A British job for every British worker.
13 August 2003
BA suspends flights to Saudi Arabia over 'security concerns'
British Airways has announced that it is to suspend all flights to Saudi Arabia "due to heightened security concerns in the region". BA said that it would suspend flights until further notice follows discussions earlier today between the airline and the British government's Department for Transport.
24 August 2011
Iconic Hammer Horror Screenwriter Dies
British Director, whose writing credits for the Hammer Horror label, include Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein, has died aged 83. Welsh born Jimmy Sangster started off as a production assistant for the Hammer label before going on to script two of Hammer's most iconic films.