It was a happy ending for the plight of Swedish citizen Bo-Rojer Mauritz (Palmquist, 56), who contracted cerebral malaria while on a tour to Thekkady and had been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital (MCH).
He was found in a semi-conscious state at his hotel room on August 27 by the staff of the hotel at Kumily, where he was staying. They admitted him to a private hospital. He was later shifted to the MCH after his condition deteriorated on August 30. As he had lost his capacity to speak, the Kumily police's efforts to find the details of his relatives had failed. His visa was to expire on September 9.
A non-governmental organisation had been taking care of him at the MCH and he was under the special care of Dr. Jayaprakash R., head of the department of general medicine.
Mr. Mauritz was showing signs of improvement for the past three days and from Sunday, he was able to talk and walk, Dr. Jayaprakash told The Hindu on Monday. The doctor said that he was almost completely cured when he left the hospital. His prime concern, Mr. Jayaprakash said, was to return home before his Visa expired.
Mr. Mauritz left from Thiruvananthapuram for Mauritius. He will travel to Sweden from there.
Mr. Mauritz, who had lost all memory of the days when he was affected with the disease, believed that all his belongings, including money and a gold ring could have been lost. “He was so moved by the help extended by the police and the hospital authorities that he thanked all of us several times before he left,” Dr. Jayaprakash said.
The Hindu had carried a report about his plight on August 2.
Anil Sreenivas, Kumily Circle Inspector of Police, said that Mr. Mauritz was so happy that he promised us that he would return within three months to complete his tour of the State.
Mr. Mauritz, hailing from Helsingborg, Sweden, reached Mumbai on August 12. After visiting several places, he reached Kumily on August 17 .
