[imagesource:mixedreality]

Durban’s King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) was busy witnessing the full spectrum of existence last week, being the place for one unexpected birth and death in the space of a few days.

On Tuesday, 18 June, a pregnant woman’s water broke and she was forced to give birth in the passage between the aeroplane and the airport. Luckily, there was a small team of medical professionals aboard the flight from Durban to Cape Town, who helped deliver her baby safely and soundly.

IOL reported that Doctor Demira Padayachee, a medical researcher based in Cape Town, was one of the people who helped the “cool, calm and collected” mother deliver the baby in the skywalk between the aeroplane and the airport.

“She was amazing, truly. It was almost as if her instincts kicked in and she just knew what to do,” said Padayachee.

She added that another colleague, Jessica Berry, who she had done her residency with, was aboard the same flight, so they were both able to help the woman.

“We did not have any equipment, so we did the best with what we had. We tried to make the mum as comfortable as possible,” Padayachee said.

Padayachee said the real hero was the mum, who remained composed throughout the birthing process, which in turn, kept everyone else calm.

Then, tragedy hit on Friday.

A female traveller unfortunately passed away on Friday evening, 21 June, at KSIA shortly before she could board a flight to Johannesburg.

News24 reported that an emergency medical response was requested at 20:35 after a traveller was observed to be struggling to breathe at gate A12, according to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

“Shortly before medics arrived, a passenger services agent was dispatched and arrived on the scene at 20:40 to discover the patient to be unresponsive,” said ACSA.

The woman was supposed to board FlySafair flight FA279, scheduled to depart for Johannesburg at 20:45, but passed away in those last few minutes. Paramedics provided advanced life support to the patient, but she was declared dead at the scene.

ACSA said the cause of death was still unknown, adding: “We can confirm that the matter has been handed over to the police. ACSA would like to extend its deepest condolences to the traveller’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

What a sad full circle.

[source:iol&news24]