When Malcolm and Marie Hebron, both 80, boarded their British Airways flight from Cape Town to the UK they had no idea that their ‘great holiday’ was about to become a nightmare.
While deplaning, Malcolm became suddenly and severely unwell on the air bridge – and stopped breathing.
Thankfully, young flight attendants Jaydon Stanford-Taylor, 22, and Will Spicer, also a couple, were quick to take action and prevent a tragedy.
‘I was completely focused on the task – saving a life,’ said Jay, as he described performing CPR on Malcolm while his team used a defibrillator and oxygen machine.
Since the drama, last year, the four have made an unlikely group of ‘life-long friends’ with ‘a special bond’ – they have met for lunch in Cape Town. Read on to hear both sides of the story from that fateful day…
Malcolm and Marie Hebron (above), both 80, have been married for almost 30 years and had been in Cape Town celebrating a friend’s daughter’s birthday when things took a turn for the worse and Malcolm stopped breathing
Flight attendant couple Jay Stanford-Taylor (right), 22, and Will Spicer (left) moved Malcolm onto the ground and immediately started CPR – saving his life
What happened? From the point of view of the flight attendants…
Jay and his partner, Will, had spent 11 hours working the flight from South Africa to London when things took a turn for the worse.
Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Jay, who has worked for British Airways for two years, said: ‘The flight itself was just like any regular day at work.
‘We landed back in Heathrow and were in the middle of disembarking the aircraft when someone indicated to us that one of our customers from our flight wasn’t feeling well at the top of the air bridge that was attached to the aircraft.’
Jay and Will raced to the air bridge – a tunnel that connects the plane’s door to the gate – and spotted Malcolm and Marie.
The flight attendant said: ‘Malcolm was sitting in a wheelchair and was complaining of chest pain. At the time, we were talking for around ten minutes about the flight and their onward travel plans, everything seemed to be fine… until it wasn’t.
‘Malcolm quickly became very unwell and unresponsive, and this is when our training kicked in.’
Malcolm was taken ill on the air bridge – a tunnel that connects the plane’s door to the gate. Above – a British Airways Airbus A350 attached to an air bridge (stock photo)
The pair moved Malcolm onto the ground and ‘started an initial evaluation of the situation’ when Malcolm suddenly ‘stopped breathing’ – and they immediately started CPR.
Jay explained: ‘I was scared but that quickly dissipated, and my adrenaline and training kicked in.
‘I was completely focused on the task – saving a life.’
Jay and Will, alongside the in-flight manager, worked to prevent a tragedy – he noted that they ‘snapped’ into their roles and ‘adapted very quickly to the situation’.
The flight attendant described the rush of activity. He said: ‘I was performing chest compressions, and Will was administering rescue breaths.
‘The rest of the crew were observing and composing an action plan for the next step: setting up the defibrillator and contacting medical professionals, all whilst customers were still disembarking from the flight.’
Thankfully, the result of the crew’s effort was a happy one: 80-year-old Malcolm survived.
‘Marie got in contact with British Airways a few days after to let us know that Malcolm was alive recovering in hospital, and to pass on her thanks to us,’ said 22-year-old Jay.
‘When we received the news, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was washed over with immense emotion and just so relieved that he was recovering. It was very much a “and breathe again” moment.’
When people travel with us, they’re relying on us to keep them safe. I was keeping Malcolm safe the way I knew how
Concluding his life-saving experience, Jay noted: ‘When people travel with us, they’re relying on us to keep them safe. I was keeping Malcolm safe the way I knew how.
‘This day has taught me that not every day is the same, that anything can happen at any time during your day.
‘Before this incident, I always thought I would freeze or second guess myself during an incident. However, during this event, there wasn’t any time for that and I feel confident and ready that I could do it again, if and when I needed to.’
Not only did Jay and Will manage to help Malcolm in his time of need, but it resulted in them making ‘life-long’ friends with him and his wife, Marie.
The two couples have a ‘special bond’, Jay said, and have even met up for lunch, with plans to do so again in future.
The flight attendant explained: ‘We became friends quickly. We regularly keep each other informed on what’s new in our lives and we have been incredibly lucky enough to meet up for lunch again in Cape Town!
‘This moment was very special to both Will and I, and I’m sure it was for both Marie and Malcolm, too.
‘We now have this special bond not everyone gets to experience and I’m looking forward to our next get-together. We have made lifelong friends who are dear to our hearts.’
What happened? From the point of view of the passengers…
Malcolm and Marie Hebron, both 80, have been married for almost 30 years and had been in Cape Town celebrating a friend’s daughter’s birthday – but could have no idea what was to happen when they landed in London Heathrow.
Not only did Jay and Will manage to help Malcolm (above) in his time of need, but it resulted in them making ‘life-long’ friends with him and his wife, Marie, when he recovered
Discussing the incident with MailOnline, Marie said: ‘We were feeling happy after a great holiday in Cape Town and were looking forward to returning home.
‘After our flight, we were disembarking from the aircraft, when Malcolm started to feel unwell.
‘He said he couldn’t breathe and was struggling to stand. We managed to get a wheelchair to sit Malcolm down in.
‘Then Jay and Will, along with the rest of the crew, started to disembark too and could see we were in need of help.’
The flight crew launched into action to check Malcolm’s wellbeing.
Marie explained: ‘We had been chatting to both Jay and Will during the flight, along with the in-flight manager, and found them so welcoming onboard. So when Jay saw Malcolm and what was happening, he came over to help straight away.
‘He pulled him from the chair, I think he shouted to Will to get the oxygen, and he then began CPR, followed by the defibrillator.
After finishing an 11-hour flight they were adamant that they were staying there to support me
Marie Hebron – British Airways passenger
‘At the same time, the other cabin crew members took me to one side nearby and looked after me so that I wouldn’t see what was happening.
‘They were great, and after finishing an 11-hour flight they were adamant that they were staying there to support me. Shortly after, we were taken off to the ambulance and then to the hospital.’
Marie noted she had ‘many mixed feelings’ when her husband was taken ill – ‘shocked, scared, grateful and very lucky to have had Jay and Will there that day’.
The doting wife was so relieved when Malcolm recovered that she asked her son to reach out to the airline.
She explained: ‘My son contacted Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, to thank the crew for saving Malcolm’s life, as without their help, I don’t know where we’d be today. From then on, the crew were contacted and the rest is history.
Marie’s son contacted Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, to thank the crew for saving Malcolm’s life after their flight and they have since met up with Will and Jay in Cape Town (stock photo)
‘We still remain in touch with the cabin crew colleagues, including Will and Jay.
‘Malcolm has recovered well, and we have since met up with them both in Cape Town, which really was a poignant moment, especially given the significance of the destination and the many memories it brought back from that day.’
The couple even hope to see Jay and Will at their home in Brighton, England.
Marie said: ‘We are already organising our next meet-up and they know they are welcome down to the South Coast anytime!
‘We can’t put our gratitude into words and want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. We owe them big time for all their help – without their speedy reactions on that day, we may be in a completely different situation than we are today.’
Summing up their harrowing experience, Marie noted: ‘Jay, Will and the rest of the crew – a huge, huge, thank you.’
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