On 21/5, Mothership reported a middle-aged male passenger fainted on an HK Express flight from Hong Kong to Fukuoka, Japan. The crew immediately administered first aid and announced a call for medical professionals.
Dr. Truong Hai Kiet, 31, from Hong Kong's intensive care unit, responded promptly. He collaborated with the flight crew to treat the patient, who was in critical condition. Another passenger captured the event on video and shared it on the social media platform Xiaohongshu. Dr. Kiet, a Hong Kong University graduate, works at Queen Mary Hospital and is also a freelance musician and HYROX sports ambassador.
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Dr. Truong Hai Kiet (Ryan Cheung) gained recognition after saving a passenger on a plane. Photo: 8days |
Earlier, on 4/5, a similar incident occurred on Vietnam Airlines flight VN19 from Hanoi to Paris. Four hours after takeoff, a foreign male passenger experienced ear pain, left facial paralysis, and difficulty speaking. The crew sought medical assistance via announcement and considered an emergency landing.
Professor Mai Duy Ton, Director of the Stroke Center at Bach Mai Hospital, immediately conducted a clinical examination. He diagnosed the patient with peripheral facial nerve paralysis, ruling out acute stroke. Professor Ton used corticosteroid medication he had with him for on-site treatment, continuously monitored vital signs, and advised the captain to continue the journey.
The passenger's health fully stabilized when the aircraft landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Through this case, medical experts warned against sudden temperature changes in summer to prevent vasoconstriction that can cause facial paralysis.
In late March, The Chosun Daily also reported a case where seven Korean family medicine specialists provided emergency care to a foreign female passenger on a flight from Incheon, South Korea, to Manila, Philippines. On 24/3, the woman collapsed near the lavatory, her breathing weakened, and her blood pressure dropped below 80 mmHg. The flight crew announced a call for medical personnel. Kim Cheol-min, Director of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine, quickly opened the airway using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) available on board. Professor Kim Jeong-hwan closely monitored her breathing with a stethoscope, while colleagues alternated using an Ambu bag to assist respiration. The patient resumed spontaneous breathing and regained consciousness within minutes. The team of specialists continued to monitor the patient for three and a half hours until she was handed over to local medical forces in Manila.
Binh Minh (According to Mothership, 8Days)
