Bradford pensioner relives New Year cruise drama (From Wiltshire Times)

Bradford pensioner relives New Year cruise drama

10:00pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Latest News

A BRADFORD on Avon woman has returned home after falling seriously ill on a cruise on New Year’s Eve.

After spending the day sightseeing in Barcelona, Isobel Guttridge returned to the P&O Oriana, to see in the New Year, but instead suffered severe stomach pains.

Mrs Guttridge, 76, of Palairet Close, had been cruising the Mediterr-anean for nearly two weeks with husband Michael.

The couple were enjoying the celebrations on board when she started experiencing severe stomach pains. She said: “I can distinctly remember getting back to our cabin, dressing up to the nines, really enjoying my meal and looking forward to the evening’s show.

“Then I started feeling really uncomfortable. I thought I had a bit of indigestion and, in my ignorance, I wasn’t too worried. Then it got so much worse, so I asked my husband if we could go back to our cabin.

“I knew I probably wouldn’t be having a happy start to the New Year.”

The ship’s medical team came to examine Mrs Guttridge and diagnosed acute pancreatitis.

She spent the next 24 hours receiving treatment in the ship’s intensive care unit.

Doctors said she would not make the final four days home on the boat, so she was taken to St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar for treatment when the ship docked, on January 2.

Mrs Guttridge said: “The people in Gibraltar were so kind. They cared for me really well. Even the other patients and visitors looked after me.

“Most of our luggage sailed home without us, but everyone saw we didn’t go without and their generosity and thoughtfulness was overwhelming.”

During Mrs Guttridge’s two weeks in hospital, her husband stayed in a hotel and was by his wife’s side.

She said: “What we’ve been through isn’t comparable with the Costa Concordia disaster, but it was undoubtedly a dramatic and stressful start to 2012. I do have many happy memories of the generous and friendly people of Gibraltar, many of whom have telephoned to find out how I am since I’ve been home.”

Mrs Guttridge, who has lived in Bradford on Avon for 23 years, returned home on January 15. She is now recovering at home and will have more check-ups in the coming weeks.