According to airport sources, George Leroy Neumann Jr who was travelling to Mumbai alone on the New York-Mumbai direct flight collapsed near the immigration counter with a bleeding nose and was taken to Holy Spirit Hospital in Andheri.
“He was declared dead before he could be taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital,” said an airport official.
The flight, which normally takes 15 hours, took 16 hours and 15 minutes. “It was hovering around Mumbai airport for one hour because of congestion. Had the flight landed early, we could have probably saved his life,” said the official.
The official also lamented the lack of adequate facilities at the airport, which has earned Mumbai airport infamy leading to four deaths in 20 days.
“We do not have trained paramedics or equipment to handle medical emergencies. Even in George’s case, Delta Airlines had to provide the first aid equipment and oxygen cylinders. We have been raising the issue for the last three years to no avail,” the official said.
The official added, “While we do not have medical evidence to suggest that his life could have been saved had the flight landed an hour earlier, but common sense suggests that we could have had a better chance.”
Earlier, George’s body was taken to the Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem where the cause of his death was said to be cardiac arrest. “The body, currently with the undertaker, will be embalmed and flown to New York on Monday night,” said an official from Sahar police station.
An airport spokesperson said, “The passenger complained of uneasiness on board and a fellow passenger who was doctor was called to help him. Neumann is a frequent flyer with Delta and the airline knew about him.” He added that the airport has all the equipment to handle medical emergencies but a new ambulance for the airport is on its way.
“We are deciding as to what type of ambulance we want and then we shall have one,” he said. He refused comment when asked if the passengers’ life could have been saved had the flight landed an hour earlier.
A death every five days: Is there a curse on Mumbai airport?
1. Qutbuddin Banglawala (68) suffered a heart attack at the Mumbai airport, died on November 1 due to delay in medical attention. He was travelling alone in a Virgin Atlantic flight from London.
2. R Sharma, who boarded an Air-India flight from Durban, was ill and on a stretcher. He suffered a cardiac arrest mid-air on November 3.
3. Panna Marfatia, a diabetic, was on a British Airways flight from London to Mumbai when she suffered a cardiac arrest as well mid-air on November 3.
4. George Leroy Newmann Jr, a 60-year-old American national, died after landing at Mumbai airport on November 18 due to cardiac arrest.
No comments:
Post a Comment