Man airlifted from dream cruise holiday… only to find out he pulled a muscle
A cruise ship passenger who was airlifted to hospital against his wishes says the ship’s doctors misdiagnosed him with an infection – when all he had was a pulled muscle.
Stephen Cassidy, 60, was enjoying the four-week Princess Cruises trip to Norway to celebrate his wife Carol’s 60th birthday and their 40th wedding anniversary.
Halfway through the trip Stephen began to experience pain in his left thigh, so he visited the ship’s doctor because he’d previously had a hip replacement on the same side.
Following a physical examination and an x-ray, the doctor said there were signs which suggested he had contracted an infection in his hip.
Stephen was placed on an IV drip twice a day, increasing to three times a day, between May 19 and 24.
Initially the ship was set to dock in Iceland so Stephen could see a doctor before re-joining the cruise, however the ship wasn’t able to stop.
The ship’s doctor then consulted with an orthopaedic surgeon online and sent the x-rays to be analysed by email.
The x-ray report indicated there was nothing to worry about and the surgeon suggested Stephen should stay on the ship, he claims.
But on May 24 Stephen, from Poole in Dorset, was asked his weight, and claims his wife was told to pack his bag.
When he asked if he could pack his own bag, Stephen was told he couldn’t leave the medical centre.
He says he was then placed in a wheelchair, even though he could walk, and wheeled onto the deck where he was airlifted to hospital with two other passengers.
They were flown to Gilbert Bain hospital in Shetland where he was told there were no signs of infection – and he most likely just had a pulled muscle.
Stephen paid £870 for flights home and a night in a hotel after he was left in the Scottish hospital hundreds of miles from home.
He believes Princess Cruises should cover those costs.
Stephen said: ‘When he said you’re going off, I looked at my wife and said “have a happy birthday tomorrow” – the doctor obviously knew he’d caused great deal of upset.
‘From being friendly they were all suddenly very hostile.
‘Subsequently we were all told that none of us were in a medical emergency and I was told I had a muscle sprain and nothing more.
‘The travel insurers confirmed they are covering this.
‘I feel Princess should be paying this because I’m now 60 and I’ve got pre-existing conditions.
‘It’s only matter of time before premiums go up or companies stop covering me.’
Princess Cruises has been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for the company reportedly refused to discuss Mr Cassidy’s case in detail but said the allegations were ‘without merit’.
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