Two doctors unable to save Hebridean five-year-old who ‘brought joy, love and laughter’
Islanders mourn little Izzy’s death from rare condition
Published:
People on a remote Hebridean island have been left devastated by the death of a “much-loved” five-year-old girl.
Mary and Toby Fichtner-Irvine’s daughter Izzy died on October 11 at her home on Muck, in the Small Isles.
She had fallen ill earlier in the week, but was fit enough to attend her brother’s birthday party on Saturday.
Her condition deteriorated the following day and, despite two doctors being ferried to the island and a helicopter being put on alert, the youngster died.
Last night, her father said: “She brought joy, love and laughter to all who knew her.”
Mr Fichtner-Irvine said the post-mortem examination had revealed his daughter had died from acute pulmonary edema, which he described as “a real freak one-in-a-million condition where her body rejects her lungs”.
He said: “She was at her brother Archie’s seventh birthday party on the Saturday and seemed fine but then on Sunday she was feeling unwell and went to bed around 6pm. But around 11pm her face had turned blue and we telephoned for a doctor.”
He said an off-duty doctor on Muck and doctors from neighbouring Eigg attended, both within 45 minutes, with the Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway also called.
Mr Fichtner-Irvine said: “But in that time she had gone. There was nothing they could have done. She was not in distress and passed away peacefully.”
Last night, the Rev Allan Lamb, a close friend of the family, said: “She had a cold and sniffles like many others and seemed to be getting over it. But then it deteriorated and Izzy just stopped breathing.”
Mr Lamb said: “Everyone is absolutely shattered at the death of a lovely and much loved child.”
Her funeral service and burial will be held on the island tomorrow and will be conducted by Mr Lamb.
Izzy was one of Mr and Mrs Fichtner-Irvine’s three children. Archie is the eldest and Jasper is one.
They are the grandchildren of Lawrence and Jenny MacEwen, who ran Port Mhor guesthouse on the island. It was later taken over by the Fichtner-Irvines.
The MacEwen family have owned Muck for more than a century, with Lawrence the present laird.
Mr and Mrs Fichtner-Irvine, both 27, had formerly lived at Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire but moved to Muck, where they took over Port Mhor as a guesthouse.
A family friend who declined to be named said: “The family is totally devastated by the death as are others on the island and those on the mainland who know the MacEwens.
“Izzy was a lovely child, adored by her grandfather and who was so looking forward to going back to school on the island.”
