‘Pioneer’ gynaecologist dies during BA flight on birthday trip to Nice
A leading gynaecologist has died mid-flight on her way to France for her birthday.
Family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Professor Linda Cardozo, 73, who fell asleep on board a British Airways flight from London to Nice on Thursday while sitting next to her husband.
A consultant gynaecologist at King’s College Hospital in London, Professor Cardozo failed to wake up after they arrived, the Independent reports.
Described by her colleagues as a ‘pioneer’ in her field, she was awarded an OBE in 2014 for service to urogynaecology and women’s health, and in 2018 earned the first lifetime achievement award from the British Society of Urogynaecology.
Professor Cardozo wrote almost 800 papers, 25 books and 130 book chapters in the course of her career, also serving as the president of the International Urogynecological Association and European Urogynecological Association, among others.
In a statement posted on Facebook, her family said she had been experiencing health issues over the past few months but had been improving and was looking forward to returning to work.
Most passengers had disembarked by the time her death was discovered. The family added in their statement they were ‘incredibly thankful’ to the professionalism of both plane and airport staff.
They said: ‘For someone so hellbent on living life to the full and so scared of retirement, it was quite a fitting end.
‘We imagine she’d be quite pleased that even her death was an international police incident.’
Dr Leonie Penna, chief medical officer at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where Professor Cardozo was a consultant, added: ‘Linda worked at King’s for 44 years, and was a true pioneer in the field of urogynaecology.
‘She was also popular and highly respected by her patients and colleagues alike.
‘She will be sorely missed, and the thoughts of everyone at King’s are with her family at this difficult time.;
A spokesperson for British Airways expressed the airline’s ‘thoughts are with the customer’s family at this difficult time.’
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