Ryanair passengers watch in shock as holidaymaker, 84, dies of heart attack at 35,000 feet after medics fail to revive him on flight from Manchester to Malaga
- The tragedy happened on a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Malaga on Friday
- Passengers and cabin crew leapt into action to try and save him on the jet
- Sadly the 84-year-old man could not be revived despite Nantes emergency landA Ryanair passenger from Manchester has died of a suspected heart attack at 35,000ft.
It happened on flight FR3232 from the north-west city to Malaga last Friday afternoon.
Around an hour into the journey to Spain an 84-year-old man became unresponsive.
Staff did their best to start first aid and then asked for anyone on board with a medical background to come forward.
Emma Gaskell, a medical trainer, and a nurse responded but found the man had no pulse.
The two passengers and a Ryanair crew member performed CPR for 25 minutes and used a defibrillator machine as the captain made an emergency landing in Nantes, France.
Emma said French paramedics later confirmed the man had died.
'Paramedics came and took him off the plane and they were another 15 minutes but he didn't make it,' she told the Manchester Evening News.
The tragedy happened on a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Malaga on Friday
Passengers and a Ryanair crew member performed CPR for 25 minutes and used a defibrillator
'The crew were a bit shaken and needed some time.'
It is believed the man was from the Manchester area and was travelling with his family including his son and grandchildren.
Emma praised Ryanair staff for their handling of the situation and for having a defibrillator on board.
The flight eventually continued to Malaga arriving at around 3am on Saturday.
The jet had flown from Manchester Airport, pictured, when the incident unfolded onboard
'The defib is generally very successful,' said Emma.
'Sadly on this occasion it wasn't a good ending but in a different situation it could have saved someone.
'You don't know when something like that could happen and I think it's important to raise awareness.
'The Ryanair staff were really, really good. I'm glad I could help - everybody just did their best.'
A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'Ryanair extends its deepest sympathies to the bereaved and is providing any assistance required.'
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