Culture

Twin Sisters Help Save Unconscious Woman During Flight

Published on August 21, 2022

Sometimes in life, we need others to be at the right place and at the right time.

A woman who boarded a JetBlue flight earlier this month was blessed that there were two passengers who were going to make a difference in her life.

Nicole Kelly, a nurse in Burlington, Mass., and her sister Lindsay Byrne, a firefighter and paramedic with the Wayland, Massachusetts, Fire Department, were both aboard a JetBlue aircraft on Monday, August 1, when a flight attendant requested help from anyone on board who had a medical background.

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Kelly, Byrne, and a firefighter from Florida sprung into action.

The three assessed the woman and found that she was unconscious, had grayish-blue skin, a faint pulse, and was having difficulty breathing.

“The woman was unresponsive in the bathroom — we got her out but weren’t sure [at first] what was going on with her,” Kelly said.

“When we had her out, we heard a faint beeping — that’s when we noticed it was a blood sugar monitor. So we knew it was her blood sugar and that it was a diabetic emergency.”

“We got some sugar packets and put the sugar under her tongue until it helped her regain consciousness,” Kelly added.

The trio remained with the woman until the aircraft landed at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, WFXT reported. The woman was then taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

“Incidents like these are what first responders and medical professionals train for. Seeing this training and professionalism kick into action beyond our small community and in an environment with limited resources is a proud moment for the department that made a difference in someone’s life,” Wayland Fire Chief Neil McPherson said in a statement.

“I commend Lindsay and Nicole for working together and utilizing both of their unique skill sets to take this swift, lifesaving action while flying aboard an aircraft,” McPherson added.

These sisters’ actions made a big difference for one woman on an airline flight, but also for thousands more who are encouraged to hear their selfless efforts in helping someone in need.

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)