From the Office of the Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Tuesday, February 9/99)-- Mayor Walter Fitzgerald is under observation at the QE 11 Health Sciences Centre today after experiencing chest pains in Mexico.
Mayor Fitzgerald and his wife, Linda, returned to Halifax from Mexico City this afternoon, where the Mayor was co-leading a joint Nova Scotia-HRM trade mission of more than 40 Nova Scotia companies and businesses.
The Mayor experienced mild chest pains in Mexico City over the weekend and was admitted to hospital there for medical observation. Preliminary testing did not reveal the cause and medical specialists at the hospital recommended further tests, which could not be carried out until later this week.
Mayor Fitzgerald said he "erred on the side of caution" and decided to return home to Halifax, rather than to continue on with the trade mission.
" They treated us wonderfully there, but when you don't feel well; it's always nice to be home. Nova Scotia has one of the best medical systems in the world, and like any other Nova Scotian who takes ill when travelling abroad, I wanted to get home to my own doctor and my own hospital for treatment, " he said.
Dr. Ron Stewart, a Professor at the Dalhousie Medical School and a founder of NovaHealth International, the international arm of the Faculty of Medicine at the university, was a member of the NS/HRM trade mission to Mexico.
Dr. Stewart accompanied Mayor Fitzgerald to the hospital in Mexico City and later made arrangements for the Mayor's return trip home. Dr. Stewart and a two-member medical team from Mexico City accompanied the Mayor and his wife back to Halifax.
"We were so fortunate that Dr. Stewart was part of the mission. Linda and I cannot thank him enough for his invaluable assistance. He was kind enough to accompany us back to Nova Scotia and we certainly appreciated his efforts," said the Mayor.
Mayor Fitzgerald praised the emergency staff and medical team at the American-British-Caraway Hospital in Mexico City for their expert treatment and professional medical care.
All media inquiries regarding Mayor Fitzgerald and his current medical status should be directed to John O'Brien, Corporate Communications Officer at (902) 490-6531 or 499-1979 (cell).
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