Former footballer Rab rushes to aid dying woman on plane

Praise for passengers who tried to save life of heart attack victim

Former Dundee goalkeeper Rab Douglas rushed to help a woman as she suffered a fatal heart attack on board a plane.

The 58-year-old fell ill after boarding the Ryanair plane as it was due to leave Majorca’s Palma Airport for Edinburgh on Wednesday. The woman was helped by other passengers, including Douglas, before being treated by paramedics.

She is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack and died on board the flight.

Douglas, who is a columnist for The Courier and a coach for Arbroath FC, said the incident was traumatising but praised those who rushed to her aid.

The 47-year-old said: “The two women who helped her before the medics arrived were brilliant.

“One of them is a nurse from Dundee – I didn’t get her name, unfortunately – but they were just amazing.

“I have flown hundreds of times before and never experienced anything like that. I helped lift her up so the medics could treat her.”

Passengers were asked to leave the plane while attempts were made to revive her.

The flight, which had been due to leave around noon, eventually took off just after 3pm local time.

The footballer, who was also capped 19 times for Scotland and played more than 100 games for Celtic, sent his best wishes to the woman’s family.

He said: “Thoughts go out to the Scottish lady who passed away on our flight and her family.

“So sad, I hope she made amazing memories with her family .

“The two ladies who worked on her until the medical team came on were absolutely amazing. Sad times.”

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “Ryanair extends its deepest sympathies to the bereaved and is providing any assistance required.”

Rab Douglas helped to lift casualty so she could be treated.