Man sat subsequent to ‘lifeless gran taken onto easyJet flight’ hits again at passengers
The 89-year-old lady was pronounced dead on the plane by the emergency service after being wheeled on by family members and carers, delaying the flight Malaga to Gatwick flight for 11 hours
A fellow passenger on a flight which a family were accused of wheeling a dead grandmother onto has hit back at claims the woman wasn’t alive – and insists he saw her breathing.
Witnesses alleged five relatives told staff the 89-year-old woman was merely asleep when she was carted onto an EasyJet craft from Málaga to Gatwick. She was seen in the waiting area ‘hunched over’, sparking fears she was dead before the flight took off.
But self-employed truck driver Tony Coatesworth was sat on 25D on the flight, with only the aisle separating him and the elderly woman on 25C. She was pronounced dead on the plane, delaying the flight for 11 hours.
Tony, who was returning from a work trip in Malaga, wrote online: “She was not dead when they sat her in the seat next to me.”
He refuted claims the women was wheeled on the flight by five members of her family, commenting on a video online: “There was only two other people with her, a man and a younger lady helped by Spanish special assistance staff.
“There is a lot of misinformation going on social media about this incident. We all got home, she didn’t. I totally disagree with your reply and saying it on video and laughing is totally unacceptable you show no compassion at all.
“As I said she was not deceased when put in her seat as I saw her breathing. Could you just for a minute think about her family, what would you be thinking about if you were reading and watching videos of so many things being said and put on social media that are totally incorrect.”
Tony later told the Metro: “All I saw was an elderly lady looking very poorly, she was accompanied by two people, a young lady and a man of about mid-fifties. As we were heading to the runway, the young lady quietly told the man there may be a problem.
“He told the stewardess and she tried to wake the lady but she seemed unresponsive. Earlier, I had seen her breathing.
“They informed the captain and the decision was made to return to the parking place. They lifted the lady from her seat and laid her down at the rear of the plane where the staff normally sit.”
He said the flight’s staff were “totally professional and couldn’t have done anymore”, adding: “The misinformation that she was brought onto the plane dead is completely untrue as I saw her breathing. I agree she wasn’t looking great but she was breathing nevertheless.
“The assumptions made and exaggerated by some people on the plane and the media has been a total fabrication of what happened. Other people on the plane certainly have made a very big joke out of it.
“Her family must be absolutely devastated with the unbelievable actions of some people and certainly the media. Friends told me that all of her family are devastated by her death and the subsequent actions and comments made by people on social media.”
EasyJet has said the claims are unfounded and explained that the woman had a fit-to-fly certificate and was alive before boarding the flight.
A spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer who sadly passed away, and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time.
“She was permitted to fly because she had a medical ‘fit to fly’ certificate and was being supported by medical personnel during her journey. It was only after boarding the customer then required medical assistance and she sadly passed away.
“The well-being of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority and we would ask customers for their understanding in these circumstances.”
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