David Murray, 39, a British volunteer in working with orphans in South East country, Laos is dead. David died after a mosquito bite and blood tests revealed he had typhus, a disease caused by Rickettsia bacteria, and dengue fever.
David Murray
David had left his job as a HGV driver in Hyndburn, Lancashire, t teach English in Laos. He had planned to spend a year in the South East Asia country, and was just three months into his plan. He died on June 7 after he was taken to the hospital by other volunteers at the Nanthong village. He was said to have gone into a prolonged shock.
Muzz, as David is fondly called was taken to the hospital after the infection took hold of him earlier and this month and he was given medicine. His blood pressure was low and his temperature was low. We did not understand it was deadly until it cost his life,Sengkeo Frichitthavong, who runs the Sae Lao Project said.
He was later taken to a much bigger hospital, Mahosot Hospital in Laos capital, Vientiane where he later died, surrounded by friends and volunteers.
Documents from the hospital shows that the diagnosis was septic shock and offered a cause of death as prolonged shock. A post-mortem will also be conducted at the Royal Blackburn hospital as part of the coroner's investigation.
David mum, Rita , grieving for the death of her son said:
We last spoke to him on Skype four days before he died. He was so happy. He had found something good in life, that's our only comfort.
David dad said:
He was really dedicated. He was giving something back in life, probably more than what we have given back when you think about it.He was a saint to the people he was helping in Laos. He was very quiet and did not brag about things, but all this time he has been doing this good work.
Shortly after his death, the Sae Lao Project released a statement:
When his body will be transferred to England, most of the people from Sae Lao and Nathong will go to Vientiane to say goodbye to him.What we all would like to remember is that David had been so generous and caring for the three brothers, Khae, Home and Siangnoy, as well as for everybody else at Sae Lao and in Nathong.
From Doy News team, Please accept our condolences...