‘Is there a doctor on board?’
A movie-like moment happened in South African skies this week where a flight from Durban to Cape Town saw an unwell patient get medical help above the clouds!
South Africa (12 September 2023) — A flight from Durban to Cape Town reportedly saw heroic intervention after a passenger found herself in a plane journey’s plot twist.
The female passenger’s trip to the Mother City took an intense turn when she found herself experiencing a health situation that required emergency help.
Luckily for the struggling passenger, a doctor was on board and just so happened to be Deputy Health Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
According to the Department of Health, the possibility of diverting the flight was considered by the pilots, but thanks to the teamwork up above the clouds, the patient made it to Cape Town International Airport where a paramedic team awaited the plane’s landing.
While the passenger’s medical context was not shared, the Deputy Minister did give further word as to what happened.
“I was alerted by a passenger seated behind me in the plane that the cabin crew were asking for medical assistance to assist a passengers who was not well, and I had to quickly move from my seat to the seat next to the passenger and attended her.
“As a trained medical doctor, firstly I had to check the vital signs in order to detect any medical problems,” and thanks to fellow passengers and the flight attendants who provided the medical kit and oxygen to enable me to stabilise the patient throughout the journey.”—Deputy Minister Dhlomo.
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