HOSPITAL; CROWD; MERCADIER SPEAKS (SOUND ON FILM); WINDOW; HOSPITAL STAFF




Initials GHB/V-TELE/RM/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: EUROPE'S FIRST HEART TRANSPLANT PATIENT, FRENCHMAN CLOVIS ROBLAIN, DIED TODAY -- JUST OVER TWO DAYS AFTER THE OPERATION.

PROFESSOR MAURICE MERCADIER, CHIEF SURGEON AT THE PARIS HOSPITAL WHERE THE OPERATION WAS CARRIED OUT, ANNOUNCED M. ROBLAIN'S DEATH AT AN EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE LEFT-BANK LA PITIE HOSPITAL.

THE CAUSE OF THE 66-YEAR OLD RETIRED LORRY DRIVER'S DEATH WAS GIVEN AS "INSUFFICIENT CIRCULATION TO THE BRAIN".

ROBLAIN, WHOSE OPERATION TOOK NINE HOURS, WAS THE SEVENTH MAN IN THE WORLD TO RECEIVE A NEW HEART. THE ORGAN WAS TAKEN FROM MICHEL GYPPAZ, A 23-YEAR-OLD METAL WORKER KILLED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

AS PROFESSOR MERCADIER ANNOUNCED THAT THE PATIENT HAD DIED, THE TWO SURGEONS WHO HAD CARRIED OUT THE TRANSPLANT -- PROFESSOR CHRISTIAN CABROL AND DR. GERARD GUIRADON -- STOOD BY HIS SIDE.

ROBLAIN HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM A FATAL HEART DISEASE AND KNEW HE WAS A DOOMED MAN WHEN HE WAS OFFERED A HEART TRANSPLANT.

PROFESSOR MERCADIER SAID THAT DESPITE THE FAILURE HIS TEAM WOULD CARRY OUT ANOTHER TRANSPLANT OPERATION, BUT HE GAVE NO DATE.

PROFESSOR MERCADIER SAID: "THE PATIENT DIED AT 10.30. HE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION DURING THE NIGHT, BUT AT TEN O'CLOCK WE HAVE SEEN HEART DAMAGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH."