Heart attack on ferry

I am writing this letter as a consequence to an experience I had lately while travelling on the Gozo Channel ferries. I would also like to communicate an important message to all those who like myself use the ferry or intend to use it.

While crossing the channel, from Cirkewwa to Mgarr, I had the misfortune of collapsing with a suspected heart attack. Luckily, a lady tourist who happened to be on her first visit to Malta, and is a nurse manager in the UK, happened to be there in time and resuscitated me. My heart had stopped and I was unconscious for a good seven minutes.

Passengers travelling on the Gozo Channel ferries please be aware of the following points:

1. If you have a heart condition make sure you travel with a medically experienced person. The members of the Gozo Channel crew simply stood around looking on. Obviously they are not trained in first aid.

2. If you have a heart condition, make sure you purchase and carry with you at least one small oxygen cylinder as the one on the ferry ran out completely by the time we reached Comino. When the British lady asked for a second cylinder the ferry master told her "That is it. That is the only one we have". Taking into consideration that a ferry sometimes carries 800 passengers, surely one small miserly cylinder wouldn't be much use!

3. Do not bother e-mailing Gozo Channel with any queries, because although they promise to answer your query, they do not bother to answer you. Even the government's Health and Safety department takes no action, instead they pass you on to another department.

Thank God for this lucky escape I had and for the lady's help without whom I might not be here today sharing my experience. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the staff at the CCU in the Gozo General Hospital whose professionalism and efficiency are second to none.