Sangster Int'l Airport outlines series of events surrounding traveller's death

By Lorraine Mendez 

   

MBJ Airports Limited, the operator of Sangster International in Montego Bay, has sought to provide clarity on the series of events surrounding the death of an elderly passenger at the facility last Wednesday.

 

Leroy Smith, 71, was returning to the United States after visiting his family when he collapsed at the baggage counter and later died.

 

Another passenger who said she witnessed the incident, claimed, among other things, that airport personnel demanded that US$400 be paid for an ambulance to transport Mr. Smith to hospital.

 

But in a statement Tuesday, Sangster International said there is no policy or requirement for payment for ambulance services by a passenger during an emergency situation at the airport.

 

Additionally, the operator reiterated that an active medical facility is in place at the airport, through a contractual arrangement with Hospiten.

 

The operator said a review of CCTV footage indicated that within one minute of officials being notified of the passenger experiencing medical distress, Hospiten was contacted, and the Hospiten duty nurse indicated they were en-route to the scene.

 

MBJ said contrary to media reports, the Hospiten duty nurse arrived at the scene six minutes after being contacted to attend to the passenger.

 

Additionally, for the next 13 minutes, the Airport's Operations Centre called for an ambulance. Contact was made with Hospiten's Ambulance Service which arrived within twelve minutes.

 

The airport said while they awaited the arrival of the ambulance, Hospiten personnel were onsite delivering care to the passenger, including administering CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). It said at no time was the passenger left unattended or without medical care once the Hospiten personnel arrived.