Russian Health Minister saves passenger suffering from stroke

Russian Health Minister helped save the life of a female passenger who suffered a stroke on a flight from Moscow to New York, USA.

Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova. Photo: RT.

An Aeroflot Boeing 777, flying from Moscow to New York, was forced to land in St. Petersburg, northern Russia, at around 12:00 after a passenger suffered a stroke, RT reported today. Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova, who was on the same flight, promptly provided first aid, helping to save the female passenger's life, before airport medical staff arrived.

"We saw the woman sitting next to us turn pale and faint. The crew immediately asked who could help give first aid to the female passenger. For half an hour, Skvortsova and those traveling with her used stethoscopes to check her heartbeat and then began first aid," said Elizaveta Brodskaya, RT's deputy editor-in-chief, who was also on the flight. The RT staff were on their way to New York to attend the 68th Emmy Awards, held on September 18.

When the plane landed, Pulkovo airport rescue workers were present, the 47-year-old female passenger regained consciousness.

"This is the fifth or sixth time I have had to intervene and it usually happens during landing or take-off," Skvortsova replied when asked how often she has had to use her real-life skills to save people.

Skvortsova also said she always carries essential medical equipment with her in case of similar situations and was glad it came in handy this time. "In 20 to 25 minutes she got better, started talking, told us her name, age and answered some questions," she said. The passenger's health was not in immediate danger.

According to VNE