Scraggy.

Last Saturday I posted about Scraggy's (Kevin Sgragg) sad death on the
Friday. The death certificate now confirms that he did die of Weils
disease! (I've forgotten the medical term for it). The rat urine related
virus which can be picked up from canal water, or in fact any water where
rats can be. I think poor Kevs untimely death at such a young age
underlines the seriousness of this pernicious virus which can lurk in the
innocent water of the canals. Like many of us, I had vaguely heard of Weils
disease, but had never headed much about it when delving bown the weed hatch
or handling wet mooring ropes with hands which could probably have a cut or
graze on them. I am probably been over dramatic, but the severity and speed
of Kevins death was alarming.

He felt a bit off on the Sunday feeling as if he had the beginings of flue.
He went work on the Monday but came home in the afternoon and went to bed
saying he felt awful and had a bad headache,his eyesight seemed odd and his
legs felt heavy and ached. The next day he let Viv call the doctor. She knew
he must have been really feeling ill as normally he would go nowhere near
doctors! On the Wednesday he was admitted to hospital where all kinds of
test were conducted, incuding blood tests. Viv said that she and Kevin
suspected what it was but, either the doctor or the hospital (I've forgotton
which!)seemed to know little about it and had to look it up on the web. By
the Thursday he was on all sorts of life support machines, and as Viv said
it seemed that his body systems were closing down one by one. He even
whispered to her that he didn't think he was going to make it! On the Friday
they nearly lost him at about twelve oclock but managed to bring him back
but finally lost him just after four pm. Even then they could not confirm
that the cause of death was Weils disease. They had to await the results of
the blood tests. I think this illustrates the severity of the strain of the
disease he must have picked up, and how little was known about it!

I am sure Viv will not mind me disclosing on this ng the details of this
tragic story, as it could help to make us more aware of this real danger in
the water.

Kevins coffin is to be bourne from Fradley Junction on top of Monarch to a
place where he will be transfered to the back of a truck which will take him
on to the Stafford Crem. Kevin didn't believe in all the trappings of
funerals and Viv is following his mind to the book! The funeral will be one
day next week and I will post details. I know there will be many canal folk
and friends there to see him off.

Roger


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