An eye witness by name Emelia Van Eck has revealed that the death of a middle-aged man travelling from the United States of America to Ghana could have been avoided if there was proper first aid at the Airport.

Emelia Van Eck, in a Facebook post, said she witnessed the last 10 minutes of the fatality and stressed that the man could have been saved “if there was proper First Aid”.

She said the nurse who showed up, after SOS calls were made, only brought a medical bag filled with Paracetamol and plaster. Saddened by the demise of the man, Emelia is still in a state of shock as to why “We have the most expensive cars and houses in Ghana and no first aid kit to save a life?”

This was contrary to the statement issued by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) that the medical practitioners did all they could to save to the life of the middle-aged man travelling from the United States of America to the West African nation.

Emelia Van Eck therefore, urged the Ghana Civil Aviation to fix this problem immediately to avoid a repetition of this ugly incidence because “My heart is broken”.

GACL confirms death of male passenger who arrived from the US on Friday

Meanwhile, the GACL, on Saturday, June 18, 2022, confirmed that a middle-aged male passenger who arrived from the US has passed on.

The deceased arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on board United Airlines from Dulles International Airport, Washington in the company of relations.

In a statement dated June 18, 2022, the GACL stated that “the passenger was reported to have complained of tiredness and had difficulty in breathing. He was subsequently offered a wheelchair by the ground handler”.

“The passenger became unconscious at the arrival hall and received medical attention, but was unresponsive. He was conveyed to the Airport Clinic for attention and he subsequently passed on. In line with protocols, the Airport Police Station was immediately informed”.
GACL

Ghana Airports company limited, in the statement, disclosed that it has commenced an investigation into the incident. The company expressed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family for the huge lose.

Man dies mid-flight from Accra to Washington

On May 22, 2022, a similar tragedy occurred when a gospel artist, Daniel Toffey Jr, who has roots from the Jomoro area in the Western Region of Ghana but resides in the United States of America (USA) died mid-way in a flight from Accra to the US. Daniel Toffey Jr was reported to have come to Ghana with his father and mother to attend the funeral of an in-law.

The mother stayed behind while Daniel and his father, also Daniel Toffey Sr. took the lead back home to Pataskala, Ohio – a suburb of Columbus in the USA.

But unfortunately, tragedy struck on board United 997 while in the middle of the Atlantic when the young Daniel died in what is suspected to be a case of pulmonary embolism (PE). PE, a blood clot, develops in a blood vessel in the body (often in the leg) before traveling to a lung artery where it suddenly blocks blood flow.

Media reports say Daniel Junior died as his father Daniel Toffey Sr. looked on helplessly – in flight. “He kept saying ‘Daddy I can’t breathe, Daddy I can’t breathe”, the senior Toffey narrated in an interview.