Absolutely furious and disgusted at Emirates Airlines...

BeerWolf

Been up all night at the hospital;

Yesterday my Dad, who's 68, arrived from Dubai to Dublin airport. My sisters and niece were there to greet him on his arrival, but we had to wait a good 40 minutes before he showed up... meanwhile all the Emirates crew were strolling out long before that.

When he finally came through, we knew something was immediately wrong --- he was incredibly pale, and shaking uncontrollably and was barely able to talk. We had to flag down someone who immediately called for the Airport paramedics...

My dad was suffering the onsets of a seizure, while waiting for the ambulance the medic noted my dad's pulse was really weak... My sister went with my dad in the ambulance, where he suffered from 3 bad seizures during the transit to hospital.

So after a brain scan, my dad's got a blood clot - and right now he can barely talk, and can't remember much past his own name and is drooping on one side.

Had those neglectful crew noticed this, AT ALL, this could have all been prevented!!!

We don't know if this is temporary, or irreversible damage.

My heart is absolutely broken... I've not seen my dad in 4 years, and this was a treat for him for his birthday come to Ireland for the 16th along with Christmas next week and my sister's wedding on the 28th.

And for this to happen?

****!

GarIT

Why are you assigning blame before you have any idea of what happened? It could have happened anywhere, he could have been in a bathroom in the airport where nobody could see him. I doubt somebody saw him having a seizure and just kept walking.

hfallada

What are the crew supposed to do? Personally check that each individual passenger is ok? I have flown emirates before and there is tons of passengers in economy and only a few air hostesses. Its very easy for them not to notice a passenger isnt the best. If you father didnt have the best of health, he shouldnt have flown

BeerWolf

hfallada wrote: »

What are the crew supposed to do? Personally check that each individual passenger is ok? I have flown emirates before and there is tons of passengers in economy and only a few air hostesses. Its very easy for them not to notice a passenger isnt the best. If you father didnt have the best of health, he shouldnt have flown

My dad's had a good medical history, so him flying wouldn't have been an issue.

The fact that he was incredibly pale and shuffling, even with the Emirates crew to walk past him - bells should have been ringing that "this person isn't looking good". It was immediately noticeable the split moment he 'walked' through arrivals.

Stone Deaf 4evr

While I can understand that you are in an emotional state of mind, And I sincerely hope your dad will be ok, you need to focus on supporting him rather than trying to scapegoat someone else. You'll never know what condition he was in during the flight, or when he started to deteriorate to a seizure. Also bear in mind that people can be slow to ask someone if they are in difficulty for fear of insulting someone who may have a long standing medical condition or illness.

Again, I hope your dad makes a speedy recovery.

MarkR

They didn't know I'm sure, and, for whatever reason, your dad didn't tell them. Hope your dad feels better. Forget Emirates and concentrate on him.

hfallada

BeerWolf wrote: »

My dad's had a good medical history, so him flying wouldn't have been an issue.

The fact that he was incredibly pale and shuffling, even with the Emirates crew to walk past him - bells should have been ringing that "this person isn't looking good". It was immediately noticeable the split moment he 'walked' through arrivals.

But he was on a plane. People get sick all the time on them. I have spoken to airline staff on long haul. They said its not uncommon for a half a dozen to be fainting on a plane and be perfectly alright when they land.

GarIT

BeerWolf wrote: »

The fact that he was incredibly pale and shuffling, even with the Emirates crew to walk past him - bells should have been ringing that "this person isn't looking good". It was immediately noticeable the split moment he 'walked' through arrivals.

I'm fairly certain they would have gotten him help if he had asked. Most people don't normally look at every person they walk past especially when they are walking in the same direction.

Oasis1974

BeerWolf wrote: »

Been up all night at the hospital;

Yesterday my Dad, who's 68, arrived from Dubai to Dublin airport. My sisters and niece were there to greet him on his arrival, but we had to wait a good 40 minutes before he showed up... meanwhile all the Emirates crew were strolling out long before that.

When he finally came through, we knew something was immediately wrong --- he was incredibly pale, and shaking uncontrollably and was barely able to talk. We had to flag down someone who immediately called for the Airport paramedics...

My dad was suffering the onsets of a seizure, while waiting for the ambulance the medic noted my dad's pulse was really weak... My sister went with my dad in the ambulance, where he suffered from 3 bad seizures during the transit to hospital.

So after a brain scan, my dad's got a blood clot - and right now he can barely talk, and can't remember much past his own name and is drooping on one side.

Had those neglectful crew noticed this, AT ALL, this could have all been prevented!!!

We don't know if this is temporary, or irreversible damage.

My heart is absolutely broken... I've not seen my dad in 4 years, and this was a treat for him for his birthday come to Ireland for the 16th along with Christmas next week and my sister's wedding on the 28th.

And for this to happen?

****!

Sorry that's more emotions talking than any reasonable sense. Flight crews at just that maybe you were expecting all of them to have medical degrees as well. People walk into A+E everyday looking like a dogs dinner most still queue and wait.

um7y1h83ge06nx

I agree with what others said so I won't repeat. Just want to wish your father all the best and I hope things turn out okay.

munchkin_utd

Oasis1974 wrote: »

Sorry that's more emotions talking than any reasonable sense. Flight crews at just that maybe you were expecting all of them to have medical degrees as well. People walk into A+E everyday looking like a dogs dinner most still queue and wait.

was going to say similar.

It took a brain scan to find what was wrong after someone was pale and faint YET a cabin crew are expected to have the medical knowledge to magically know if a passenger is critically and dangerously sick.
Sure even if you go to a hospital they can miss a diagnosis, one such cock up leading to a fatality of a guy I knew through meningitis. If thats in a hospital of a person presenting with a problem, how should a cabin crew diagnose someone they pass on a corridor??

Its also obvious to someone who knows the sick person that they are out of sorts - like a parent will know their children, but to the rest of the world they are a slow frail pale (relatively healthy) person.

Hope your dad gets better but its not fair to blame the cabin crew for not picking up on this.

seamus

Take some time, revisit this when you've had a full night's sleep, and have a think about it again. You're tired and emotional at the moment and it's perfectly normal to think of the "what ifs" and look for people and things to blame.

When you've had a sleep and some time to calm down, contact Emirates and ask them initially if they can contact the staff members on that flight to see if they can recall anything of note about your Dad*, and what their procedures are (if any) in terms of passenger well-being on long-haul flights.

It does sound to me like others have said that your father likely began to notice the symptoms of this after he had left the aircraft and possibly went into the toilets to gather himself. And when he noticed he wasn't getting any better, he went for the exit. The symptoms of stroke can come on very quickly, as you experienced.

I really hope your father recovers quickly from this, but I would implore you to focus your energies on supporting him and your family through this rather than wasting it getting upset at the airline.

*Bear in mind that the crew do not know any of the passengers and have never met any of them before. What they might consider odd behaviour from a passenger could be perfectly normal for that person.

um7y1h83ge06nx

Well said Seamus.

Miaireland

First I hope your Dad will be ok.

To be honest I think you need to calm down a bit. You do not know when you father started showing symptoms. I would image if he was in the state you described on board the flight that the passenger next to him would have noticed and called the crew.

This could have happened when your Dad was waiting for his cases, in the bathroom etc.

Unfortuntely with something like this it can happen in a matter of minutes.

Miaireland

BeerWolf wrote: »

My dad's had a good medical history, so him flying wouldn't have been an issue.

The fact that he was incredibly pale and shuffling, even with the Emirates crew to walk past him - bells should have been ringing that "this person isn't looking good". It was immediately noticeable the split moment he 'walked' through arrivals.

You have to remember the crew do not know your Dad. Many people look pale and shuffling and it is quite normal for them. Also once the passengers get off the plane the crew really aren't looking at them. They are just walking out of the airport with their cases like everyone else.

kerry4sam

@Beerwolf:

It was me who closed your thread here earlier. You crater; Sincerely Hope your Dad will be okay.
Don't hesitate in contacting me should you feel the need to, about anything. Give your Dad a Huge Hug from us all here on boards.ie!

Thinking of You All,
kerry4sam