British dad dies after cruise ship outbreak infected 100 passengers
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A British man died after catching norovirus on a cruise ship where nearly 100 passengers fell ill. Alan Forster, 77, ‘couldn’t wait to board’ the P&O Arcadia at Southampton for a month-long holiday with his wife Dianna, 79, last September 3. Dianna said: ‘Alan was the most loving husband and dad. We were looking forward to many more years together but that’s been taken away in the cruellest of ways.’.
![[Alan Forster with his wife Dianna. Photo released December 19 2024. A dad-of-two has died from a suspected kidney failure after falling seriously ill with norovirus on a cruise ship.Alan Forster, 77, set off from Southampton onboard the P&O Arcadia Cruise with his wife Dianna when he was struck down with gastric illness.Two weeks into the month-long trip and after returning from docking in New York, Alan, from Paignton, had diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting.The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has since confirmed there was an outbreak of norovirus on the ship.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_233837745-a164-e1736004493539.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=418)
The couple’s 48th cruise would take them across the Atlantic Ocean to New York and back. But Alan fell ill two weeks in, DevonLive reports. Norovirus – the ‘vomiting bug’ – was spreading through the vessel, infecting nearly 100 people on board, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed.
Alan, a father of two and grandad to four, was confined to his cabin with diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Then his kidneys started failing. Upon reaching St John’s, in Newfoundland, Canada, Alan was hospitalised and put on a drip, but he died in October.
![[Alan Forster with his wife Dianna in hospital. Photo released December 19 2024. A dad-of-two has died from a suspected kidney failure after falling seriously ill with norovirus on a cruise ship.Alan Forster, 77, set off from Southampton onboard the P&O Arcadia Cruise with his wife Dianna when he was struck down with gastric illness.Two weeks into the month-long trip and after returning from docking in New York, Alan, from Paignton, had diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting.The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has since confirmed there was an outbreak of norovirus on the ship.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233837854-14d9.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘Every day since then has been filled with grief and pain’, his wife Dianna said. ‘I still can’t – and don’t want to – accept my beloved husband is gone. It was me who wanted to go on the cruise. I blame myself. If it wasn’t for me, he’d still be here.’.
Dianna wonders if something could have been done to prevent the outbreak and Alan’s death. She said he was only taken to the medical centre after his symptoms became critical. However, P&O claims medical care was given on board until Alan’s health declines.
