“You can’t die because of a bronchitis”

 How did Fatma Jejili die? A woman who was always cheerful and active, mother of two children, 34-years-old, arrived yesterday in hospital for a shortness of breath, but she died after being given a green code, not serious case. The DA office of Varese is investigating, but meanwhile the relatives are gutted. “Fatma was a splendid woman and full of life”, her cousin, Khaoula El Wafi, says “she had only a bronchitis, but someone forgot to cure her, in that hallway last Saturday” she accuses. “When we arrived, at 7pm, a cardiologist took us in a room, and told us that he had been called when there was nothing left to do, while a nurse told us that they tried to reanimate her for almost an hour.” Khaolua is like a river in flood, “I screamed, then Fatma’s husband, Ali Rtimi, called the police and they were very good, they calmed us down and reassured us, but now we want to know what happened. Fatma’s children since that day have been at my home. They ask for their mother, and I don’t know how to explain them what happened.”

            The cousin explains how relatives are living these moments, “We came from the north of Tunisia, Bizerte, and now we are trying to organize the last travel of Fatma, because she has to come back home. In Marchirolo, the other evening we prayed for her, at friends’ home, all the Tunisian community rallied around Fatma and Ali. Even in Cunardo a Mass was dedicated to her, even if she was Muslim, because she was very well-liked. She worked as assistant in a kitchen of the Provvidenza restaurant.

            In the meantime, an inquiry is going on. Ali Rtimi is represented by Antonio Battaglia of Varese. The charge was filed to the police but probably there will be an integration.  Sabrina Di Taranto, the Public Prosecutor is evaluating the positions of all people who were there and in these hours she should have already arranged the designation of an expert for the autopsy, that should be done at the end of the week. The examination will be essential to understand what happened. “ Fatma was a healthy woman, she had two pregnancies and worked regularly.” her relatives say. Although, in March she complains about a bothersome bronchitis. On 31st she went to Cunardo, to her doctor, who prescribed her an antibiotic and a cortisone medicine. According to the lawyer, on Saturday morning she woke up with a strong sense of prostration. She breathed with difficulty, but she prepared the breakfast for her two children of 8 and 5-years-old. At 1.30pm the husband took her to first aid of Luino. According to the cousin, the husband would have preferred to take her to Cittiglio, but she asked him to take her to the closest hospital. At the hospital, after a first examination at the triage, to Fatma was given her a green code and according to the doctors there was a first medical examination as routine. After that, they made her laying down on a bed in the first aid. The timetable is known only by the magistrature, but around 6pm her family heard about the death. On that bed, Fatma did not breathe anymore.