A Malaysian doctor couple sprang into action after a passenger suffered an allergic shock while onboard a flight from New Zealand to Singapore, helping stabilise the man and preventing the plane from making an emergency diversion.
The doctors, 34-year-olds Wu Jin Feng and Tan Pei Jun, were travelling on a Singapore Airlines flight from Christchurch to Singapore when the medical emergency unfolded.
According to reports by Lianhe Zaobao, the incident happened at around 1.30pm New Zealand time when cabin crew made an announcement asking if there were any medical professionals onboard.
Passenger reportedly lost consciousness for 2 minutes
Wu said he and his wife responded immediately and found a male passenger who had just regained consciousness.
The man’s wife reportedly told them he had fainted for about two minutes.
After examining him, the couple discovered that his condition was unstable. His heart rate was only 38 beats per minute, while his blood oxygen level had dropped to 88%.
They also noticed swelling around his tongue and lips, along with red rashes on his body, which are symptoms consistent with an allergic shock reaction.
Wu added that the situation was made more challenging as the passenger had a history of stroke and heart disease, while some onboard medical equipment, including a stethoscope, was reportedly not functioning properly.
Doctors decided to inject adrenaline onboard
The couple initially tried administering intravenous fluids and oxygen, but the passenger’s condition remained concerning.
Wu said the man’s heart rate hovered between 55 and 60 beats per minute, while his oxygen levels stayed between 88% and 92%.
Fearing the passenger could go into shock again, the doctors decided to administer an adrenaline injection onboard.
Fortunately, the man’s condition gradually stabilised after the injection.
The couple then remained in contact with a ground medical team while continuing to monitor the passenger throughout the journey.
As a result, the flight did not need to divert and landed safely at Singapore’s Singapore Changi Airport.
Passenger was breathing on his own before landing
Wu shared that before the aircraft landed, the passenger no longer required oxygen support or intravenous fluids.
He was reportedly conscious and able to breathe on his own.
After arriving at Changi Airport, the passenger was handed over to the airport medical team for further observation.
As Wu and Tan had a connecting flight to catch, they left after briefing the medical team on the passenger’s condition and recommendations.
Third inflight medical emergency in 45 days
Wu revealed that this was the third time within 45 days that he had encountered a medical emergency while onboard a flight.
He previously responded to incidents on flights from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul on Apr 8, and from Auckland to Queenstown on May 6.
However, he said neither of those incidents was as critical as the allergic shock case on the Christchurch to Singapore flight.
Wu previously served at Penang Hospital and is currently working in the private healthcare sector.
Meanwhile, Tan is undergoing specialist training at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta after completing her membership exams with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK.
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