THE body of a young Scout leader is to be flown to Dublin from Nairobi after he collapsed and died during a climbing expedition to Mount Kenya. Mr Donal Fitzgerald (24), from Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, was a leader of the Navan Road Unit. His sudden death has shocked members of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland.
It is hoped that the other group members who travelled on the four week trip to Kenya will be able to return home before the end of the week, although the changing of flights may pose difficulties.
A post mortem was being carried out in Nairobi yesterday. Arrangements for the repatriation of his body are being co ordinated by the Irish Consul in Kenya and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Eamonn Lynch, CBSI chief executive officer, said yesterday: "The training for this is very vigorous, and he appears to have had some climbing experience. Not everyone on the trip went up the mountain, and it is one of those things you can't legislate for."
Five leaders and 13 scouts from the CBSI joined 17 members of the Boys' and Girls Brigade of Northern Ireland on the cross community expedition to Mount Kenya, under the leadership of the CBSI chief commissioner, Mr Kiernan Gildea. The group left on January 15th and the expedition was due to return on February 8th. Members were planning to teach first aid in nearby villages.
Mr Fitzgerald became ill on Sunday afternoon and was attended by a doctor and member of the expedition, Sister Eithne Synott, but died a short time later. He is survived by his mother.