Faute d'equipements: Compatriote morte sur un vol de la American Airlines.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Were you on American Airlines Flight 896?


The Daily News wants to hear your first-hand accounts of the tragic death aboard American Airlines Flight 896 from Port-au-Prince to New York Sunday. Witnesses can call 212-210-1682 or email webnews@nydailynews.com

Brooklyn mom dies while flying from Haiti to JFK



BY DAVE GOLDINER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, February 25th 2008, 1:36 PM
A Brooklyn mom flying back from Haiti on American Airlines died after two onboard oxygen tanks that could have been used to revive her failed to work, relatives said Sunday.
Carine Desir, 44, a nurse from Lefferts Gardens, collapsed an hour into the flight on Friday, moaning, "Don't let me die."
Flight attendants and medical personnel tried to save Desir by administering oxygen, but the tanks were empty, the family charged.
"How can a big plane like that not have the proper equipment?" asked her grieving husband, Mario Fontus. "It's unacceptable. She didn't get any help."
American Airlines confirmed the death, but a spokeswoman refused to comment on the reported equipment malfunction. The city medical examiner's office said Desir died of natural causes.
"She was a nurse, helping people," Fontus said. "It's a shock."
Desir, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, complained of feeling ill and being thirsty on the flight from Port-au-Prince, according to Antonio Oliver, a cousin who was traveling with her and her brother Joel Desir.
A flight attendant gave her water, but a few minutes later she was gasping for breath.
Two doctors, two nurses and a flight attendant who were aboard tried to administer oxygen, but the two tanks were empty, Oliver said.
"Maybe she could have been saved," said Joel Desir, also of Brooklyn.
The pilot agreed to divert the plane to Miami, 45 minutes away, but a doctor pronounced her dead minutes later.
The flight continued to Kennedy Airport with the woman's body moved to the floor of the first-class section and covered with a blanket, Oliver said.
dgoldiner@nydailynews.com

This is an important lesson for people who are obese and have high blodd pressure.There is no more excuse ;we all know the devastating effects of these conditions:sudden death, blindness. amputation , heart attack etc.To know how to eat does not mean we have to eat a lot.it is time we balance our diet by reading nutrition books, and exercice regularly.

A one hour walk a day or some exercice in a gym is all we need. Is this too much for our health.Stop eating meat ,rice, bread ,sugar, salt etc.take your blood pressure medication regularly.This year my resolution is to loose 50 pounds.I know it will not be easy, but I am determined to loose that tire around my belly.It is time we stop loosing our parents needlessly.Longtime ago we have the excuse of ignorance; no more ,now we know the consequences of obesity and overweight.