Qld; Doctors hold grave fears for meningococcal victim

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2001
Qld; Doctors hold grave fears for meningococcal victim

Doctors hold grave fears for the son of a former Australian rugby union international
struck down by the deadly meningococcal disease.

Former Wallaby prop TONY D'ARCY flew from Ireland at the weekend to be with his 16-year-old
son CHRISTOPHER, who is fighting for his life in a Brisbane hospital.

The disease has claimed seven lives in Queensland this year, with 13-year-old St Joseph's
Nudgee College student DANIEL LAHERTY and 18-year-old Rockhampton woman JULIE ANNE MORRIS
being the latest victims.

CHRISTOPHER remains in a critical condition.

Holy Spirit Private Hospital director of intensive care Dr ALAN HENDERSON says the
infection has been controlled but doctors are still trying to reduce the swelling of CHRISTOPHER's
brain.

He told ABC Radio that there's a high chance he won't survive the illness.

The St Joseph's Nudgee College student was selected in the Queensland schoolboy rugby
union side to play England this weekend, before being struck down by the disease.

AAP RTV ch/sc/jas/jn

KEYWORD: MENINGOCOCCAL (BRISBANE)

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