A routine flight from Omaha to Phoenix turned into a life-or-death situation when a 77-year-old passenger went into cardiac arrest just as the plane touched down. Thanks to the quick thinking of a Southwest Airlines flight crew, two nurses who happened to be on board, and a defibrillator, the man is alive today and able to tell the story himself.
The passenger, Patrick McGee, made an impression on the crew of Flight 4835 well before the emergency happened. Flight attendant Nina Castro recalled that McGee spent part of the flight chatting about Southwest’s history, including founder Herb Kelleher and co-founder Rollin King. When Castro brought him a glass of water, he told her she was his “angel,” a comment she said stuck with her, especially given that in 25 years of flying, no passenger had ever said anything quite like it.
That comment turned out to be more prophetic than either of them realized. As the plane landed, McGee lost consciousness, according to KENS 5. Castro said she jumped from her seat and tried to rouse him, but got no response. That’s when her training took over…