Highgate schoolgirl in swine flu fight for life
Highgate schoolgirl Natasha Newman seriously ill with swine flu after being admitted to hospital on the Greek island of Kefalonia. The Gordonstoun pupil has been transferred to Athens
30 July 2009
A LONDON schoolgirl with swine flu is fighting for life in a Greek hospital after failing to seek treatment early enough, according to doctors treating her.
Natasha Newman, 16, from Highgate, is in a "very serious" condition in an intensive care unit in Athens after falling ill while holidaying on the island of Kephalonia.
Her parents, Julian Newman and Nikki Boughton, are at her bedside at the hospital, said a spokeswoman for her father's business, J Newman Textiles.
Dr Zoe Beka, who is treating the teenager at Penteli Children's Hospital, said she had contracted the illness in the UK - but did not seek treatment until her symptoms became critical.
She said: "The outlook is very serious. She is receiving a number of different treatments including Tamiflu and antibiotics.
"There is no doubt that she contracted the illness while in London - but there was a delay in her receiving treatment. She carried on with her holiday."
Natasha, a music enthusiast, was sitting her GCSEs at Gordonstoun public school in Elgin, Scotland.
Mark Pyper, principal of the school, said: "This was a private family trip. Her parents told me what the situation was yesterday. Obviously we really hope she gets better, and soon, in what is a quite horrible situation for the family."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed she had been hospitalised and said family members were receiving consular assistance.
The spokeswoman for Mr Newman's firm added: "This is a very distressing and worrying time, our thoughts are with them."
It is not known whether Natasha has underlying health problems.
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