Gran, 79, travelled alone to see Northern Lights

A grandmother[1] from Farnham in Surrey experienced a “heartbreaking” devastating fall from a coach, while holidaying in Norway. Tragically, she died abroad at Stavanger University. Cathering Betty Fitzgerald was known as Betty, and was 79 at the time of her death on October 6, 2022, when life support was withdrawn.

She fell having missed a step at the top of the coach, as she exited the vehicle, Surrey Live[2] reports. The tragedy happened during a day excursion to visit the Northern lights at the Norwegian Fjords with Saga Cruises, which was a trip she did on her own. Betty hit the back of her head on the concrete quayside and unfortunately experienced a bleed to her brain called a subdural hematoma, due to the head injury.

The coroner, Christopher Wilkinson, declared that her death was accidental and due to a vision impairment in her left eye. In addition, the safety strip at the top of the steps was partially obscured by the carpet of the coach, so Betty misjudged where the step began and ended. On Monday, Head of Safety, Police and Assurance, Daniel Mann at Saga cruises told the inquest at Winchester Coroners court: “Slips, trips and falls are not uncommon amongst our target age group.” A safety check was undertaken the same day however the checklist could not be found, he added.

The tragedy happened during a day excursion to visit the Northern lights at the Norwegian Fjords (Getty Images)

Betty’s daughter, Pauline Parrott, 57, from Farnham, was critical of the company, adding that communication was bad because she found out about her mum’s fall while at home.

Allegedly she receive a phone call from the UK Saga customer service team, which “turned [her] life upside down”. The customer service team said she could secure a flight to Norway, and she claims the first caller did not understand how serious the accident was. Only when she secured the number of the Norwegian hospital, did doctors tell her that Betty had just two hours to live.

She told SurreyLive: “I just had to sit and wait for a call to confirm that she hadn’t made it. I wouldn’t have time to fly out there. I felt helpless, it was all so upsetting.”

At the time, Saga only dispatched a medical representative for those on a cruise for 11 days or more. Therefore, Betty was not eligible to have a member of staff by her side when she travelled to hospital and she died[3] alone after the hospital decided to withdraw life support just three hours after the accident. Pauline told the coroners court: “I think passengers would be shocked by some of the things you think are acceptable.

There was a serious lack in communication regarding the severity of her injuries and support for the family. No one would want their parent alone in distress. “This is all very difficult to understand given the age of their clients and the admission from Saga’s Head of Safety that ‘slips and trips are commonplace’.

Mum dying alone is truly heartbreaking, we would have loved to have been by her side when the life support was switched off.” One witness, Derek Wilson, said in a statement that the steps were quite steep and that there was no Saga staff on the ground to help passengers off the coach. John Michael Morley, another witness, added in his statement that the sound of Betty hitting the floor was terrible, and also corroborated that there should have been staff on the ground to help.

Coroner Christopher said he did not believe Betty tripped on the scuffed carpet, but he was concerned that the safety strip may have been obscured. Along with her limited vision, she may have anticipated the step to be closer than it was. He concluded: “My view is that the death was accidental and nothing could have been done.

It is regrettable that the rep was not able to get off the coach first as they should have done and was not able to be present. Given the fact that she fell from the top step I do not believe there is likely much someone could have done being at the bottom of the stairs, and it may have caused them injuries.” It was recommended by the coroner that a designated seat for representatives is set aside by the exits, so they can get off first.

Oral warnings about taking care of the steps should be given every time the bus stops, similar to when disembarking the tube in London, and written signs should be put up. The coroner added: “It is a desperate and very sad event leading to the loss of life of Catherine ‘Betty’ Fitzgerald and the distress felt by the family trying to deal with her. I hope you have very fond memories of her.”

A Saga spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and condolences remain with the family of Mrs Fitzgerald following this tragic accident.

We have been fully supportive of the inquest and provided all assistance to the Coroner.”

References

1. ^ grandmother (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Surrey Live (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
3. ^ died (www.getsurrey.co.uk)