Off-duty paramedic returning from stag do 'saves' suicidal man on plane

An off-duty paramedic on board a flight home from a stag do saved the life of another passenger who reportedly tried to commit suicide.

Gareth Lines, 36, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, had been on a stag party and was travelling from Thailand to Heathrow last Friday when he stepped in to save the man's life.

The man had reportedly tried to take his own life in an aeroplane bathroom, before Lines used his training to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Lines said he heard a commotion at the back of the plane and initially thought someone had collapsed.

He said: "I just thought, 'What is going on?'

"It looked like someone had collapsed at the back of the plane, but it turned out to be worse than I'd thought and his heart had stopped.

"This gentleman had tried to end his life and the plane crew and I dragged him out into the kitchen area."

Lines had been on a stag do before taking Taiwanese airline EVA Air's flight BR67 from Bangkok to London Heathrow.

Read more: Flight from Bangkok makes emergency landing after passenger's suspected suicide attempt (Evening Standard)

The incident reportedly took place about 30 minutes before the plane was scheduled to land.

Lines said the plane had basic equipment onboard, including an automatic defibrillator, and he asked the crew to bring him some oxygen which he used.

"Without drugs we couldn't do much more," he said.

Click below to see the latest South and South East headlines

"The guy was in cardiac arrest for 30 minutes then 15 minutes after the London ambulance crew arrived.

"They managed to get him to hospital and his heart was beating again. It is usually pretty fatal for anyone - if he hadn't have had CPR."

Lines added: "It surprised me as well. On the road we have a full compliment of kit.

"Within 20 to 30 minutes we consider stopping CPR but the guy on the plane was down for a good 30 to 40 minutes - there is no chance he would have made it if he wouldn't have had CPR.

"Ultimately, that's what is going to save someone's life."

Lines has been in the ambulance service for 10 years and has been a paramedic for five years.

He said of CPR: "It is something anyone should be able to do - it shouldn't have to take a professional to do it.

"Good quality CPR is all that is needed to potentially keep someone alive in the event of a cardiac arrest before the emergency services arrive.

"It was interesting landing whilst doing CPR - certainly a new experience. I was thankful to have the support of the airline staff, who remained calm in the difficult circumstances - and to the pilot for a fairly smooth landing as well."

A spokesperson for EVA Air told Yahoo News UK: "During the descent of EVA Air's flight no. BR67 from Bangkok to London Heathrow on 15 March, a passenger was found in one of the bathrooms, where it was suspected that he had made a suicide attempt.

"With the assistance of EVA Air's flight attendants and a medically qualified passenger on board, the affected passenger was immediately given first aid treatment.

"On the flight's arrival in London at 7.03pm, the passenger was transported to the hospital for further treatment by medical personnel, and the matter was passed to the police for a follow-up investigation."

Yahoo News UK has approached EVA Air for further comment.

Anyone who needs support can contact Samaritans by calling 116123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by visiting samaritans.org.