Ailing flier dies in city hospital

A cancer patient onboard an Emirates flight was hospitalised on Tuesday morning after her condition worsened. The passenger died within an hour of being admitted to Holy Spirit Hospital, Andheri (E).

Comfort Oliye, 38, boarded Mumbai-Dubai flight EK 501 with her brother Thomas Oliye, 35. When she complained of throat pain, the airline staff called the airport ambulance, said an airport source. The airport doctor advised that she should be admitted to  a hospital.

“She was earlier taken to the hospital the same day. The doctors told her relatives that her condition was critical and that she should be admitted to the ICU,” said a senior police officer from Sahar police station. “But her relatives got her discharged thinking it was only a two-hour flight to Dubai,” he said.

Comfort had been in the city from July 14 to July 21 for treatment. In March 2007, she was operated upon for breast cancer in March 2007 at Bombay Hospital. 

The Sahar police sent her body for post-mortem to  Cooper Hospital, Vile Parle (W) and registered a case of  accidental death.

“The cause of death is not known. If we find anything suspicious in the post-mortem report, we will investigate the matter,” said the policeman. Thomas refused to comment on the issue.