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Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that passengers aboard a Boston-bound United flight that took off from George Bush Intercontinental Airport last Thursday (March 24) came to the rescue of a man who suffered an apparent heart attack. Baylor College of Medicine's Dr. Zeena Nawas was among the health care professionals who tended to the passenger, according to the station.
Nawas told the station that the flight had dermatologists who were heading to a conference. They stood up when the flight crew called for assistance, Nawas, a dermatologist herself, said.
Nawas recalled that the patient spoke only Arabic.
"I quickly started talking to him in our language," she told KHOU. "He told me how he was experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath and (was) really sweaty."
The station reported that another Houston-area dermatologist, Dr. Muneeza Muhammad, helped Nawas.
Muhammad said time is of the essence when it comes to a heart attack.
"Our entire goal, everyone on the plane, one mission is to get this patient stable and to be OK," Muhammad said.
The incident reportedly occurred one hour into the flight. KHOU reported that the aircraft was diverted to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The passenger's son told the station that his father, who had a stent placed in his heart last year, is fortunate to have others help him.
"We were so lucky that he had such a wonderful team like that on that flight," the son, identified as Ahmed, said, according to KHOU. "This is America. This is why this nation is so great."
The physicians themselves were also thankful to have been at their patient's aid.
"We're here to help patients, wherever it is," Nawas told KHOU. "On the street, plane, in a hospital, which is ideal. It was a beautiful act of humanity. That's what it was."
Ahmed commended them for their teamwork in saving his father, wondering what could've happened if they weren't on the flight, according to KHOU.