UK tourist defies illness after Fiji parasite ordeal
A tourist from the United Kingdom ended up in the hospital after contracting a parasite while swimming at a waterfall in Fiji. Despite the dramatic ordeal, she told the media, "Life is too short, and if you're worrying about that, you would never experience new things."
Twenty-three-year-old Isabelle Lythgow, a graduate of the University of Salford, embarked on a six-week volunteer trip to the village of Nairukuruku in Fiji after completing her studies. She also wanted to explore local attractions.
It started after the bath
Her adventure quickly turned into a nightmare when she began experiencing severe health issues after swimming in a local waterfall.
As she recounted in an interview with the Daily Mail, following an evening bonfire, she started feeling dizzy and experienced back pain and tingling in her limbs. During the night, she vomited every 30 minutes for over 12 hours. Upon reaching the hospital, doctors determined she had contracted a waterborne parasite, which is a common issue among tourists in this region.
After four hours on an IV, she was discharged from the hospital, and she was recommended to drink only bottled water.
She would do it again
Despite the traumatic experience, Isabelle was not discouraged from traveling. She admitted she would swim in that spot again because the experience was remarkable. "I'm absolutely terrified of being sick, I have emetophobia. It was my biggest fear before going," she said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Isabelle acknowledged that after the illness, her stomach shrank, and it took her quite a while to get back in shape. Nevertheless, she encourages others not to abandon traveling for fear of illness. "Life is too short and if you're worrying about that you would never experience new things," she added.
Despite the difficulties, Isabelle emphasizes the invaluable value of life experiences and travel. "I would never say don't do something out of fear of getting poorly; you can get poorly anytime," she stated.
