 News of Chatwin 's AIDS diagnosis first surfaced in September 1988 . However , at the time of his death , obituaries referred to Chatwin 's statements about a rare fungal infection . Following his death , members of the gay community criticised Chatwin for lacking the courage to reveal the true nature of his illness , which some people think would have raised public awareness of AIDS , as he was one of the first high @-@ profile individuals in Great Britain known to have contracted HIV . 
