Man dying of heart attack 'refused defibrillator by air hostess because his chest was too hairy'
A man who was dying of a heart attack on board a plane was refused a defibrillator because cabin crew thought his chest was too hairy.
Jack Jordan, 62, died following the heart attack.
Jack and his wife Caroline were on the Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Albuquerque when the incident happened.
After a nurse and physiotherapist stepped in to administer CPR a passenger pointed to an on board defibrillator, reports the Mirror.
According to Caroline, cabin crew did not use the defibrillator to revive him saying his chest was too hairy.
'The flight attendant that had been right up there with us said because his chest is too hairy,' she said.
'I don't expect the airlines or the flight attendants to be nurses or doctors, but in that kind of a circumstance one of the first things that they should be doing is getting that AED hooked up.'
Fellow passengers performed CPR in an attempt to save him.
Eventually Jack's chest was shaved but it was too late, reports the Metro.
Michelle Agnews, a Southwest Airlines spokeswoman said the airline is looking into the incident.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to the passenger for her loss, she said.
"Our reports indicate that once notified of his condition, our flight attendants and two on board medical professionals assisted the ill passenger following protocol for use of our on board automated external defibrillator (AED).
"All of our aircraft are fully equipped with AEDs and our flight attendants receive initial and annual recurrent CPR and AED training.
"While in the air, our Employees contacted paramedics to meet the flight immediately upon arrival."
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