A pensioner claims he lost almost two stone on a cruise after a kidney failure – despite being told by the ship’s doctor there was nothing wrong with him.
Gordon McDowall, 69, felt unwell on a Fred Olsen cruise to Madeira and the Canary Islands but claims he was told that nothing could be done for his loss of appetite.
But within hours of arriving home in Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear, he was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Doctors told him that his kidneys stopped working while on board the cruise, and that his right kidney was swollen.
Gordon McDowall, 69, lost nearly two stone after falling ill while on a Fred Olsen cruise to Madeira and the Canary Islands in October last year
After making it back home to Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear, Mr McDowall, pictured here with his wife Joyce on the cruise, was told his kidneys had failed
Mr McDowall is still having treatment following the holiday in October last year.
He plummeted from 12-and-a-half stone to 10st 8lbs during the 16-day cruise after falling ill with severe back pain and vomiting on day three.
By the fifth day he was ill enough to visit the medical officer who carried out some tests, but claims he told him there was nothing wrong with his kidneys.
Mr McDowall said: ‘After another couple of days I had completely last my appetite and on the odd occasion I managed to eat I was sick again.
‘I went back to see the medical officer and explained I was not eating and could not face the thought of food.
‘His reply was “I do not do anything for loss of appetite”.
‘I managed to get through the rest of the cruise but not able to enjoy it.’
He claims he approached the medical officer on two separate occasions but claims he told him ‘I do not do anything for loss of appetite’ and said nothing was wrong with him
Mr McDowall still felt ill after he and his wife Joyce reached Boldon Colliery so he phoned 111 and paramedics were sent out.
He said: ‘They took one look at me and I was taken by ambulance to South Tyneside Hospital, given pain relief, and tests.
‘Within 30 minutes I was taken to a ward as the doctor told me there was something wrong with my kidneys which required further investigation.
‘Since then I have been informed there was a swelling on my right kidney and I am waiting for a date an operation to reduce the size of my prostate.
‘My consultant at the hospital says my kidneys stopped working while I was on the cruise but Fred Olsen say I went into retention after leaving the boat.
‘I cannot understand why the doctor on the boat said there was nothing wrong with the kidneys and yet a few days later the hospital discover there is a problem.’
A Fred Olsen spokeswoman said that, due to client confidentiality, the company was unable to discuss the private medical details of guests.
The travel firm said it hoped to welcome Gordon, who had been on its holidays several times, back on board for another cruise.