A Ryanair flight travelling from Gran Canaria to Bournemouth was forced to make an emergency landing in France after a female passenger suffered a suspected heart attack.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft had been approximately halfway to its destination on Monday when the medical emergency unfolded.
Flight attendants made an announcement asking if any medically-trained passengers were on board.
A retired cardiologist then stepped in to provide immediate medical assistance to the woman before emergency services took over.
A retired cardiologist then stepped in to provide immediate medical assistance to the woman before emergency services took over
BBC
The diverted flight then landed at Brest Bretagne Airport where the passenger was transported to a nearby hospital.
"Suddenly the bongs came up over the PA system and they said: 'If there is a medically-trained passenger on board, can you make yourself known immediately, please'," passenger Chris Howard told the BBC.
Howard, who had been returning from a holiday, noticed crew members gathering around a passenger at the front of the plane.
"Turned out the guy was a retired cardiologist and the lady was having a heart attack," he said.
MORE MID-AIR CHAOS:
- Ryanair passengers stranded in Spain after air-traffic controllers went home instead of waiting extra 15 minutes for diverted aircraft
- Ryanair flight forced to make emergency landing as 'unruly passenger' is hauled off plane by Spanish police
- Ryanair passengers left terrified and 'unable to breathe' after major issue sparks emergency mid-flight
The flight was forced to divert to Brest, France
PAAfter assessing the woman, the retiree spoke directly with the pilot, which led to "a very rapid descent" towards Brest.
Howard also praised Ryanair staff for keeping the woman shielded from "lots of nosy people".
After landing in Brest, emergency services boarded the aircraft and treated the woman.
She was then moved to a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for further treatment.
"Approximately an hour later we were taking off and were on our way home, which was amazing really," said Howard. "We all felt like they've done a smashing job."
A Ryanair spokesman confirmed the incident in a statement.
"This flight from Gran Canaria to Bournemouth diverted to Brest after a passenger became ill onboard," the airline said.
"The crew called ahead for medical assistance to meet the aircraft upon landing at Brest Airport."
"The passenger was disembarked and transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment. This flight continued to Bournemouth that same day."
