Amazon’s chief executive suffered a kidney stone attack visiting the Galapagos Islands this week, according to the local press. A Navy helicopter plucked Mr. Bezos from a cruise ship and flew him to Baltra Island, which has one of the two Galapagos airports. His private plane then took him back to the United States.
An Amazon spokesman, asked for comment, quoted Mr. Bezos as saying: “Galapagos: five stars. Kidney stones: zero stars.”
Kidney stones form when there are elevated levels of certain substances in urine. They may be “as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl. Some stones are even as big as golf balls,” the Mayo Clinic says. The bigger they are, the more pain they cause as they make their way through the urinary tract.
While not usually a sign of serious problems, the stones — as well as Mr. Bezos’s imminent 50th birthday — might spark some questions about a succession plan at Amazon. He founded the company, and is its largest shareholder and driving force.
Amazon said on Saturday that Mr. Bezos was feeling fine. No surgery was required.
Knowing Mr. Bezos’ savvy use of promotional opportunities, it’s surprising he did not say he fetched help by using the new “Mayday” feature on Kindle tablets.