A medical doctor has narrated how he saved a man on-board an Azman flight from Kano to Lagos.
The Doctor, James King who took to his Facebook page to narrate the story explained that “It’s getting clearer now, …why I was born.
I am soooooo proud of myself right now.
I just saved a life who would have possibly died midair in the aircraft I was a passenger in.
I was on seat 14F of BOEING 737-500 of AZMAN AIR from Kano to Lagos.
A passenger on the seat to my far left on the other side of the aisle suddenly dropped his head. The Indian man sitting beside him screamed and called the attention of the air officials. The Indian said it seemed he passed out.
We were still several thousands of miles above sea level. Far from Lagos our destination.
As it is with my nature, I was listening to some music with my earpiece on board this flight. I was rocking myself head forward and backwards, my hands slightly moving up to the powerful music of SHOW US MERCY by Will Adiks.
The movements to the unconscious passenger got my attention.
I removed my earpiece.
In 5 powerful long strides, I got to the dying patient.
To the Air Hostesses, “I am Dr James King. I want to take over. He is deteriorating fast.”
Air Hostess, “Ok sir. Go ahead.”
And she gave me the way.
I quickly checked his pulse around his radial artery. It was a small volume, irregularly irregular rhythm.
I shouted, “Any doctor, nurse or paramedic here?”
No response.
All the other passengers on board were staring with a forlorn look.
I turned the immaculately dressed 3 Air Hostess around me. “We can save this life together. His life depends on us now.”
I turned to one of the hostesses, “Can you please get us all the medical boxes or kits in this aircraft”
She responded, “Ok sir.”
I asked two other male passengers to help me lift the dying man to the aisle so I can have more space to start my intervention on him.
I immediate positioned him supine and also ree his airway by tilting his head back a bit.
Please, can I have any cloth or anything to support his neck?
The air hostess removed their suits and handed them to me.
I folded two of them and placed them under the neck the dying man.
At this point, the dying man was already having rolling up eyes, …all white.
I listened to his apex heart beat.
It was very weak and faint.
I immediately commenced CPR on him.
He responded favourably.
He began to convulse uncontrollably.
Please, can someone get me Diazepam?
It was 30 minutes before landing.
If nothing is done fast he will die in less than 10mimutes.
I repeated CPR again.
And again. And again…
I listened to the heart using my stethoscope.
Some mild activity commenced.
I turned to the chief air Hostess, please call Murtala Mohammed Airport and tell then to arrange an Ambulance before our landing.”
She said, “Right away” and began to rush toward the cockpit to inform the Pilot to do so.
When I was sure the patient’s ventilation improved a bit, I quickly withdraw 5mg of Diazepam and gave him straight intramuscular on his buttocks.
Returned to the supine position again.
Commenced CPR.
Checked his radial pulse.
I then announced to everyone that… “I AM buying time. He will survive.”
I was on the floor of the aircraft kneeling around him.
Monitoring every single thing I can pick from his reflexes.
The chief air hostess came back.
I asked her, “How many minutes do we have more to land?”
She said, “in 5 minutes.”
I again announced to everyone on board, “HE will survive.”
Then there was a loud sudden check in the aircraft.
Then we landed.
Three men/passengers carried him.
We evacuated him very fast out of the plane.
At the foot of the plane, there was no ambulance waiting.
I was visibly angry and now shouting at the top of my voice to all the airport officials.
I told This is wickedness. We did all our best with God’s help to keep this man alive for 30 minutes and you people could not even get us a waiting ambulance?”
Someone suggested that he should be taken in one of the Toyota Hilux vans.
I said, “No, it will kill him before we get anywhere”.
I screamed, “Any clinic in the airport?”
That was when their brains came back to default reset and they chorused, “Yes.”
I said tho the men still carrying him let go.
That was when we rushed him to the clinic in the photo of this post that is close to the Arrivals of the Murtala Mohammmed airport.
I explained everything I did and the medications given to the doctor on call.
She took over.
Then I walked out and looked up to heaven and said, “I know you were involved in this. Thank you, Lord.”
I actually came to Lagos for an aboslutely FREE Medical outreach to sick and abandoned Prison inmates at Kirikiri Prison.
We are all born to save lives.
Thank you.
