22/04/2026
A news story recently reported how three emergency doctors helped save a passenger who suffered cardiac arrest on a Singapore Airlines flight.
It reminded me of something that happened to me about 13 years ago.
I was leaving the gym after a workout and shower when a man suddenly collapsed. By coincidence, there were two other doctors and a nurse exercising there that day as well. Someone brought over the AED, and I delivered the shock. Thankfully, his heart rhythm returned.
What stayed with me all these years was not the drama of the moment, but how preparedness and teamwork made the difference. AEDs were already present in many public places then, but they were far less commonly used and many people were still hesitant about stepping forward.
In obstetrics we sometimes remind ourselves of a similar principle when emergencies happen in pregnancy. People understandably panic when a pregnant woman collapses. But the fundamentals remain the same: save the mother first. When the mother is stabilised, the baby’s best chance is preserved too.
Whether it’s on a plane, in a gym, or in a maternity ward, those first few minutes matter.
Sometimes it simply takes someone willing to step forward and act.