Chinese Nurse Jia Shuaiqing Becomes In-Flight Hero in Dublin Rescue

On December 17, during a flight from Beijing to Dublin on Hainan Airlines, an emergency unfolded when a passenger collapsed shortly after leaving the airplane restroom. The situation grew critical as the flight crew urgently called for medical support, prompting Jia, a nurse from Fenyang Hospital in Shanxi province, to spring into action despite being seated some distance away.

Jia immediately identified herself as a healthcare professional and rushed to the passenger’s aid. She checked the patient’s vital signs, noting her very pale complexion along with cold, clammy limbs. Suspecting a heart attack, and aware that the aircraft was still hours away from landing, Jia quickly took control of the situation. With help from another passenger who provided nitroglycerin, she administered the medication by instructing the patient to let it dissolve under her tongue, while also ensuring that high-flow oxygen was supplied. She also took precautions to avoid unnecessary movement and encouraged proper air circulation by asking nearby passengers to step back.

Throughout the flight, Jia remained vigilant as the patient’s condition began to stabilize. After a slight cough signaled some recovery in her complexion, Jia continuously monitored her vital signs, keeping a close watch on the patient’s blood pressure and oxygen levels until the plane landed in Dublin. It was later confirmed by on-ground medical professionals that her initial assessment was correct, as the patient endured another fainting episode before receiving further emergency care.

At the University of Limerick’s Postgraduate Students' Union, the recovered passenger along with her family expressed profound gratitude for Jia’s decisive actions. Jia, who was on her way to a master’s graduation in nursing, described her intervention as instinctive—a quality nurtured by her background in respiratory and critical care. Her dedication not only saved a life but also underscored the universal commitment of medical professionals, proving that care and compassion transcend borders.