Doctor gave victim the all clear September 2 2002 Victorian Matthew Lipianin was the midshipman who died of meningococcal disease on the weekend, the Australian Defence Force said today. The 19-year-old died on Saturday morning at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) after reporting ill to the Canberra Area Medical Unit at Duntroon the previous day. He was suffering symptoms of the flu including a headache, runny nose and a sore throat, but Air Commodore Julie Hammer said he displayed no signs of meningococcal disease. "His medical practitioner checked him explicitly for symptoms of meningococcal," she said. "She checked for a rash and for a stiff neck and recorded that those symptoms were not present." She said Midshipman Lipianin was sent back to his room and his colleagues checked on him during the afternoon and evening. "At six o'clock the next morning, when he didn't show for roll call, they checked his room and found him in his room apparently passed away." Air Commodore Hammer said about 150 midshipman and officer cadets at ADFA had received preventative antibiotics. AAP Printer friendly version Email to a friend Also in National text | handheld (how to) membership | conditions | privacy Copyright © 2002. The Sydney Morning Herald. advertise | contact us