European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Assists in Mid-Flight Medical Emergency
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and a trained doctor, provided first aid to a fellow passenger who experienced a medical emergency during a flight from Zurich to Brussels. The incident occurred as she was returning from the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
A journalist on the same Swiss Air flight reported the event and confirmed the identity of the good Samaritan as none other than the President of the European Commission. The airline also verified the incident, stating that a passenger had indeed received first aid from another traveler during the flight. However, due to privacy considerations, no further details were shared about the individuals involved or the health status of the passenger who fell ill.
Previous Medical Career of Ursula von der Leyen
Before embarking on her political journey, Ursula von der Leyen was a medical professional, holding a degree from the Medical Faculty of Hannover. She served as a medical assistant at the gynecological clinic of the same institution between 1988 and 1992. Further enhancing her medical credentials, von der Leyen completed a Master of Public Health in 2001 and worked as a research assistant at the Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Medicine Research at the Medical Faculty of the Medical University of Hannover.
Immediate Assistance and Further Actions
During the flight, as is standard protocol during such medical emergencies, the airline staff asked if any passenger had medical expertise. Responding to the call, the European Commission President stepped in to assist the passenger in distress until the plane landed and medical professionals could take over.
This incident serves to highlight the importance of medical knowledge and the significant difference it can make in emergency situations, even at 30,000 feet.
