Australian nurse who died in Lautoka hospital had Lupus

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Philip Davies has confirmed that preliminary investigations by Lautoka Hospital medical staff have identified the likely cause of death of the 24-year-old Australian nurse and there are no indications of any unusual circumstances. 

Davies says out of respect for Kelly Clarke’s next of kin, the Ministry of Health will not comment further on this matter and again expresses its sympathy to all who have been affected by her loss.

According to 7 News, Kelly Clarke had been diagnosed with the auto‑immune disease lupus, however it's not known if it is related to her sudden death.

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body, including the skin, joints, and organs inside the body. About 9 out of 10 adults with lupus are women. Some women have only mild symptoms. But, for others, lupus can cause severe problems.

Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the honeymoon of the Sydney couple Chase and Kelly Clarke ended in tragedy after Kelly passed away on Friday.

According to the report, Kelly was taken to Lautoka hospital on Wednesday before passing away on Friday, with doctors unable to determine what caused her death.

The report says it was initially suspected that she had contracted typhoid, however blood tests revealed that the disease was not the cause of her death.

Stuff.co reported that an emergency medical flight to New Zealand came too late for Kelly as her family had been waiting for an intensive care unit helicopter to fly Clarke to New Zealand but she died before it arrived, going into cardiac arrest five times in the hour before her death.

The report claims that she was placed into an induced coma and was reportedly in a very unstable condition.

Davies says they are greatly saddened by the news of Kelly’s death and wish to express their sincere sympathy to her husband, family and loved ones.

Davis says they also believe it is important to respect her family's privacy at what must be a difficult and distressing time.

Kelly and Chase Clarke were married in April and had been in Fiji for their honeymoon and to attend a friend's wedding.

Source: Stuff.co / Sydney Morning Herald