A volunteer first responder has spoken of how he tried to help save the life of a man who died on a flight to Newcastle.
A 63-year-old man passed away on board the easyJet service from Alicante on New Year's Day after falling ill.
Paul Dowson was flying back from a holiday in Benidorm when he noticed a member of the cabin crew running up the aisle with a defibrillator.
He said his fears were confirmed when he turned around and saw a passenger in "cardiac arrest".
The 34-year-old, who has volunteered as a community first responder (CFR) in Crook, County Durham, for North East Ambulance Service for the past five years, leapt into action and began to help.
Together with another male passenger, he helped to support the cabin crew to administer CPR until the plane landed and the ambulance crew took over.
Despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead.
Paul, who works as a mobile fitter, was sad to hear that the man didn't make it.
He said: "When I turned around my fears were confirmed when I saw a person in cardiac arrest. It was a really horrible situation, especially with all the passengers around.
"I’ve been a CFR for five years but I never expected to be in that situation – you really never know when your skills might be needed.
"We gave him the best chance we could. It’s been really sad to hear that he didn’t make it and my thoughts are with his family."
A spokesperson for the airline said: "easyJet can confirm that a passenger was taken ill on board flight EZY6418 from Alicante to Newcastle on 1 January.
"Medical assistance was provided to the passenger on board and the crew requested paramedics to attend upon landing to provide further medical assistance however the passenger sadly passed away.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the passenger and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time.
"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is our highest priority.”
A spokesman for Northumbria Police confirmed that the man's death was not being treated as suspicious.
He said: "At about 1.35pm on New Year’s Day police received a report that a 63-year-old man had fallen unwell on a flight travelling to Newcastle Airport from Alicante.
"Paramedics attended to the man when the flight landed in Newcastle, however, he was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
"There are not believed to have been any suspicious circumstances around the man’s death and a report will now be prepared for the coroner."
A spokesperson from Newcastle Airport said: “The Airport’s Air Traffic Control team were made aware that a passenger had taken ill on an inbound flight from Alicante yesterday afternoon and requested paramedics to meet the aircraft on arrival.
“Several members of the Airport Fire Service, alongside the paramedics, provided medical assistance on board, however, sadly the gentleman passed away. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the passenger.”
