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Airlines urged to carry defibrillators after death of woman on holiday flight Airlines urged to carry defibrillators after death of woman on Ryanair flight
(34 minutes later)
A coroner is urging airlines to carry defibrillators after a 47-year-old woman collapsed and died of an undiagnosed heart condition while on a Ryanair holiday flight. A coroner is urging airlines to carry defibrillators after a 47-year-old woman collapsed and died of an undiagnosed heart condition while on a Ryanair flight.
Davina Tavener, who had two children, was travelling to the Spanish resort of Lanzarote with her husband, Andrew, when she fell ill about three hours into the journey, an inquest heard.Davina Tavener, who had two children, was travelling to the Spanish resort of Lanzarote with her husband, Andrew, when she fell ill about three hours into the journey, an inquest heard.
Mr Tavener became concerned for his wife after she did not return from the toilet. Members of the cabin crew opened the door to find Mrs Tavener had collapsed. Andrew Tavener became concerned for his wife after she did not return from the toilet. Members of the cabin crew opened the door to find Davina Tavener had collapsed.
A consultant breast surgeon at the Royal Bolton hospital who was on the flight tried to help cabin crew and other passengers save her but they were unable to do so.A consultant breast surgeon at the Royal Bolton hospital who was on the flight tried to help cabin crew and other passengers save her but they were unable to do so.
Airlines are not currently required to carry a defibrillator, which can shock the heart back into action after an arrest.Airlines are not currently required to carry a defibrillator, which can shock the heart back into action after an arrest.
Mr Tavener told Bolton coroner’s court that as far as he was aware, his wife, a businesswoman, was healthy, other than complaining of a minor stomach ache in the week before the flight. Andrew Tavener told Bolton coroner’s court that as far as he was aware, his wife, a businesswoman, was healthy, other than complaining of a minor stomach ache in the week before the flight.
Consultant surgeon Clare Garnsey told the inquest she could not feel a pulse and believed that Mrs Tavener had died while on the plane. Consultant surgeon Clare Garnsey told the inquest she could not feel a pulse and believed that Davina Tavener had died while on the plane.
On arrival at Lanzarote airport, paramedics entered the aircraft and took her to hospital.On arrival at Lanzarote airport, paramedics entered the aircraft and took her to hospital.
Coroner Alan Walsh ruled that the cause of death was unknown – and that Mrs Tavener died of a naturally occurring disease. Coroner Alan Walsh ruled that the cause of death was unknown – and that she Tavener died of a naturally occurring disease.
Ms Garnsey told the court she was “surprised” that there was not a defibrillator on board, describing them as “critical” to survival in cardiac events. Garnsey told the court she was surprised that there was not a defibrillator on board, describing them as critical to survival in cardiac events.
She said: “I did ask for a defibrillator, because if it’s a cardiac issue that’s the best chance of survival, and it was quite a surprise this wasn’t there.”She said: “I did ask for a defibrillator, because if it’s a cardiac issue that’s the best chance of survival, and it was quite a surprise this wasn’t there.”
Two representatives of Ryanair who appeared at the inquest, Captain Chris Grube, regional air base manager, and Eva Roharikova, chief instructor of safety, both said they could not comment on the possibility of introducing defibrillators on the airline. Two representatives of Ryanair who appeared at the inquest, Chris Grube, regional air base manager, and Eva Roharikova, chief instructor of safety, both said they could not comment on the possibility of introducing defibrillators on the airline.
The court was told that Mrs Tavener worked for HSBC and frequently travelled abroad, recently visiting Hong Kong, China and Thailand in the weeks running up to her death. The court was told that Davina Tavener worked for HSBC and frequently travelled abroad, and had visited Hong Kong, China and Thailand in the weeks running up to her death.
A resident of Sutherland Road, Heaton, she was born in Burnley but moved to Bolton as a child. She graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in foreign languages and business, and was described as a “very intelligent and successful woman”. She was born in Burnley but moved to Bolton as a child, and graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in foreign languages and business. She was described as a very intelligent and successful woman.
Mr Walsh said Ryanair staff had followed all safety protocols and paid tribute to Ms Garnsey and others who helped. Walsh said Ryanair staff had followed all safety protocols and paid tribute to Garnsey and others who helped. “I cannot speak more highly of the involvement of Ms Garnsey and those others who participated in the resuscitation process. I include in that comment members of Ryanair cabin crew.
He said: “I cannot speak more highly of the involvement of Ms Garnsey and those others who participated in the resuscitation process. I include in that comment members of Ryanair cabin crew. “In relation to Mrs Tavener’s death, it is difficult to know whether any equipment would have assisted, because there was a five- to 10-minute period when she was in the toilet, and it’s not known for how long she was unresponsive.”
“In relation to Mrs Tavener’s death, it is difficult to know whether any equipment would have assisted, because there was a five to 10-minute period when she was in the toilet, and it’s not known for how long she was unresponsive.” Mr Walsh said he would be writing to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority about the possibility of installing defibrillators on board, as well as a bag valve mask, airway adjuncts and suction equipment, to provide more dignity to people being treated on an aircraft. As Ryanair is based in Ireland, its safety policies are overseen by the Irish Aviation Authority. Walsh said he would be writing to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority about the possibility of installing defibrillators on board, as well as a bag valve mask, airway adjuncts and suction equipment, to provide more dignity to people being treated on an aircraft. As Ryanair is based in Ireland, its safety policies are overseen by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Mr Walsh added: “I don’t believe there is any difference between short-haul flights and long-haul flights. Walsh added: “I don’t believe there is any difference between short-haul flights and long-haul flights. It takes a second to have a cardiac event and sadly cardiac events don’t choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight.
“It takes a second to have a cardiac event and sadly cardiac events don’t choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight, it can happen at any time. “If you are, by the nature of air travel, trapped in aircraft without access to any other facility, the authorities need to consider the equipment to be carried on those airlines, whether it’s short haul or long haul.”
“If you are, by the nature of air travel, trapped in aircraft without access to any other facility, the authorities need to consider the equipment to be carried on those airlines, whether it’s short haul or long haul.” Following the hearing, Philip Chadbond, Mrs Tavener’s brother, said: “She died in very unfortunate circumstances, but if there is any chance that the airlines could make this change, which could save someone’s life, that would be a positive outcome.” Following the hearing, Philip Chadbond, Davina Tavener’s brother, said: “She died in very unfortunate circumstances, but if there is any chance that the airlines could make this change, which could save someone’s life, that would be a positive outcome.”