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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2679519/City-mans-death-referred-to-coroner
City man's death referred to coroner
By AMY MILNE - The Southland Times
Last updated 05:00 28/07/2009
The death of a 27-year-old Invercargill electrician has been referred to the Chief Coroner's Office.
Stephen Lavelle died at Auckland Hospital early on Friday morning after being transferred from Southland Hospital a week before.
He was suffering from an unknown sudden illness but there was a suggestion he might have had swine flu after a message was posted on Trade Me that referred to the illness.
Otago and Southland district health board Incident Controller-H1N1 Leanne Samuel spoke with the Lavelle family yesterday.
Ms Samuel in an email says the district health board often contacts families as part of "our duty of care".
A spokeswoman for the Chief Coroner's Office confirmed it was investigating Mr Lavelle's death but said it was awaiting autopsy and swine flu (Influenza A H1N1) test results.
The office is investigating 15 deaths where people have had positive swine flu test results.
However, their actual primary causes of death were yet to be confirmed, the spokeswoman said.
A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said the cause of Mr Lavelle's death was unconfirmed. The ministry confirmed 12 people had died in New Zealand because of swine flu since the outbreak began in April.
The latest swine flu death is that of a woman who died in Middlemore Hospital this month.
A service for Mr Lavelle will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Waikiwi, Invercargill, at 1pm today.
City man's death referred to coroner
By AMY MILNE - The Southland Times
Last updated 05:00 28/07/2009
The death of a 27-year-old Invercargill electrician has been referred to the Chief Coroner's Office.
Stephen Lavelle died at Auckland Hospital early on Friday morning after being transferred from Southland Hospital a week before.
He was suffering from an unknown sudden illness but there was a suggestion he might have had swine flu after a message was posted on Trade Me that referred to the illness.
Otago and Southland district health board Incident Controller-H1N1 Leanne Samuel spoke with the Lavelle family yesterday.
Ms Samuel in an email says the district health board often contacts families as part of "our duty of care".
A spokeswoman for the Chief Coroner's Office confirmed it was investigating Mr Lavelle's death but said it was awaiting autopsy and swine flu (Influenza A H1N1) test results.
The office is investigating 15 deaths where people have had positive swine flu test results.
However, their actual primary causes of death were yet to be confirmed, the spokeswoman said.
A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said the cause of Mr Lavelle's death was unconfirmed. The ministry confirmed 12 people had died in New Zealand because of swine flu since the outbreak began in April.
The latest swine flu death is that of a woman who died in Middlemore Hospital this month.
A service for Mr Lavelle will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Waikiwi, Invercargill, at 1pm today.