Samoa Lifestyle Leave ends with Critical Illness

on 4 Dec 2017

Nicole asks

Hi Christine and the Mariner/Leuluaialii family.

I'm so incredibly sorry to hear about Fiaalii's passing, our thoughts and sympathies are with you at this time. I'm a reporter with Stuff.co.nz and would like to write a tribute piece honoring Fiaalii's life. If the family are up for it, I'd love to speak with them and give them the opportunity to shape how he will be remembered by his community. Please get in touch nicole.lawton@fairfaxmedia.co.nz and again, our deepest condolences

This question has not been answered yet.

on 1 Dec 2017

Gill asks

Dear Christine

I am a dr from air ambulance. Please make it clearer how terribly ill Mr Mariner is and that he may die if he does not get back to NZ. He needs a pacemaker and has septic shock and pneumonia as well. His situation is desperate and people need to know. Maybe the media will pick it up if you do so

Kind regards

Gill

Christine

Hi Gill, thanks for this. I will update the page with the information that Alei has provided to me. We are in regular contact. We have been advised that he is not stable enough to fly out of Samoa at this stage. We are aware of the situation up to this morning at 11am. We have people on the ground in Samoa currently reviewing what options we can assist with including Air Ambulance. Alei and her sister in law have been to the NZ High Commission in Samoa but they have confirmed unable to assist. They have also contacted our New Zealand Prime Minister but I have not heard if any response was received. Appreciate your question and update to all will be done. Fingers crossed we can get more assistance for Alei and family in Samoa. We certainly are doing the best we can behind the scenes to investigate more options since he is too unstable to move at this stage. Warm wishes Christine