mother and daughter die in bali, page-67

Bali deaths: Signs of choking, asphyxiation in deaths of Queensland's Noelene and Yvana Bischoff




A doctor who has examined the bodies of two Queenslanders who died in Bali at the weekend says there are signs of choking or asphyxiation.

Sunshine Coast mother Noeline Gay Bischoff and her 14-year-old daughter Yvana fell violently ill in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Resort staff helped rush them to a medical clinic but Ms Bischoff died on the way and her daughter died a short time later.

There has been speculation that it was food poisoning from fish they ate at the Padangbai Beach Resort's restaurant.

Their bodies are now at Bali's Sanglah Hospital awaiting autopsies.

Sanglah Hospital doctor Ida Bagus Putu Alit says he has performed an initial physical inspection and there are signs the mother and daughter could not breathe.

He says it could take two weeks to determine what killed them.

Dr Putu says they will also need to do laboratory pathology and poisoning tests as well as check microbiology results.

Ms Bischoff's brother Malcolm says he does not believe a food allergy or poisoning is responsible.

"I wasn't aware of any food allergies with her or Yvana, and my mother has just lived the last nine years with them permanently and she's not aware of any food allergies," he said.

"So it would make you wonder about that."

He said the family has been following media reports of the deaths and was sceptical about the information provided by Indonesian officials.

"[We're] fairly concerned because I actually listened to an interview with the head chef from the restaurant from the hotel and he assured everyone that their food was fine," he said.

"Without a post-mortem, you'd be fairly game to suggest something like that, I would think."

Restaurant unable to explain illness

Giovanni Bareato, the manager of the restaurant which served the pair, denies the meal contributed to the deaths.

He has told the ABC other customers ate similar dishes and there have been no other reports of illness.

DFAT has declined to comment publicly on the possible cause of death, saying the Australian Consulate-General in Bali is providing the Bischoff family with consular assistance and is working with local authorities.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast community has rallied around the family.

Queensland Attorney-General and local MP Jarrod Bleijie says his daughters were friends of Yvana and he has been deeply saddened by the news.

"I'm just sad to hear the news of the passing of Noelene and Yvana in Bali over the last couple of days," he said.

"I think it's tragic news for any family to hear, particularly when it happens in foreign land. On behalf of the Sunshine Coast community I express our absolute condolences."Noelene Bischoff was a nurse at Caloundra Hospital.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-06/signs-of-choking-in-deaths-of-queensland-mother-and-daughter-in/5186810