The British High Commission in Nigeria on Wednesday confirmed the death of Mr. Peter Leslie Carter, a Deputy High Commissioner.
Carter died on Tuesday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
His death just as he landed from a United Airlines Flight UA143 at 3.50pm had resulted in confusion, people around scampering out of fear that the death could have been as a result of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.
In a letter signed by E.E Ukatu and Abdullahi of the Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, it was revealed that Carter died of severe asthma attack.
According to the letter, the Port Health Services was called on Tuesday by a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria medical nurse at about 4.07 pm from the D arrival screening point “to see a passenger (the deceased), said to have arrived aboard a United Airlines flight from Houston, Texas.
“It was reported that after disembarking, the passenger was observed to be clutching his chest and asking for help.
“In the course of examination, he was asked if he was Asthmatic, and he said ‘MAY BE’.
“On examination, he was found to be pale, in respiratory distress (gasping for breath), his pulse was rapid and thready.
“Based on his response to the question if he was asthmatic, a Ventolin inhaler was administered, but was not effective, as the patient was restless and threw off the inhaler to the floor.
“He was placed on the left lateral position and at the same time, oxygen was called for.
“Efforts were made to administer oxygen, while a second doctor was called and suction applied via a suction machine to clear the airway.
“Subsequently, the patient suffered a cardio-pulmonary arrest; the radial and carotid pulses were no longer palpable and patient was observed to be cyanosed.
“Attempts at resuscitation proved abortive. Pupils were fixed and dilated and patient was certified dead at 4.26 pm,” the letter reads.
According to Head of Press and Public Affairs at the British High Commission in Abuja, Rob Fitzpatrick, said Mr. Carter had previously served as Consul-General in Milan and then as the British Ambassador to Estonia before becoming Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos in 2013 where he made an exceptional contribution to the UK’s relationship with Nigeria.
He said the British High Commission and family and friends of the deceased would “sorely” miss him.