A British holidaymaker’s cruise has turned into a “terrifying nightmare” with him stranded in the Philippines when his ship left without him after he fell into a coma. Christopher Capel, 72, had been just over halfway through the 100-day voyage when disaster struck.
After the P&O Cruises vessel docked on the island of Palawan in the Philippines on March 4, Mr Capel began to feel unwell so wanted to go to his cabin to rest.
But the doctor on board sent him to a hospital on the island where medics carried out tests to try and find out what was wrong.
By the time they had finished the tests and had given him medication to treat heatstroke the cruise ship he was on had left the port.
Because of this, the diabetic is stranded around 7,000 miles from his home.
To make matters even worse, his insulin was still in his cabin when he went to hospital so his blood sugar fell dangerously low, causing hypoglycaemic shock which led to a brief diabetic coma.
Mr Capel is now struggling to find a way home.
The retired youth worker, from Swindon, Wiltshire, said: “It’s been an absolute nightmare, and terrifying at times.
“P&O have failed in their duty of care – I would not recommend that anyone over 70 go alone on one of their cruises, because I have no one fighting my corner.
“I kept telling the nurses ‘I need to get back to the ship’ but they kept taking more tests and asking about my breathing difficulties and chest pains when I didn’t have either of those symptoms. I don’t know what they had been told by the P&O doctor.
“When I went into a coma, I wondered if that was it, that might be the end, but I came around the next morning.
“I was then stuck in a hospital bed with nothing wrong with me, it was ludicrous. I should have been allowed back on board, it wasn’t a serious health issue.
“I can’t believe the power one person can have over your life, to just leave me in this mess. I’ve been treated so badly by these companies.”
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After he stabilised he borrowed a laptop to email his niece Karen Williams.
She helped him contact P&O and Nationwide, his insurance company, to try and ensure he can resume his journey.
Mr Capel has managed to get a prescription for insulin but says he is still in limbo and is unsure about how he will get home.
He is scared of flying so getting the nearly 7,000 miles home without the cruise ship could prove to be a tall order.
Mail Online reports there had been a plan for a doctor and nurse to fly over and sedate him for the flight back but this has now been cancelled because he has been deemed too ill to fly.
Mr Capel said: “I have two options, there is a cruise ship coming in April otherwise I am stranded here. I don’t know how long I will be out here – it is ridiculous.
“I want to get home [but] P&O have made sure I can’t get on any of their cruise ships because of my medical issues.
“Everyone is telling me I have complex medical issues but they can’t tell me what they are.
“I seem to be stuck in the middle of a stupid game.”
His niece, an office manager from Cornwall, said: “If he had no next of kin, I don’t know what would have happened because these companies have not been helpful, they’ve left him to sort it out himself.
“I worry about him being alone on the other side of the world in a place where he doesn’t speak the language. I just want him home safe.”
A P&O Cruises spokesperson said: “We are so sorry this has happened to this guest.
“Having taken advice, we have been advised that due to his critical medical needs, it is not feasible to return to the UK by ship.
“So, our customer care team has been in constant liaison with the guest and his insurance team to find an acceptable and safe alternative solution as his physical health and mental wellbeing is the priority in this case.”
Nationwide has been approached for comment.
