European Commission President Aids Passenger in Medical Emergency
Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission, successfully administered first aid to a passenger on board a Swiss flight from Zurich to Brussels who had a medical emergency. This incident was confirmed by her office, which added that von der Leyen provided assistance until the plane landed safely.
Medical Emergency On Board
The incident occurred on a Wednesday afternoon when Swiss flight LX780 took off from Zurich to Brussels. An announcement was made onboard requesting the assistance of any passenger with medical knowledge. A journalist on the flight noticed a woman rushing to aid the distressed passenger, who he later recognized to be Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Commission’s deputy spokesperson, Arianna Podesta, confirmed that the President did indeed assist the passenger until the plane landed, whereupon medical staff took over. However, in line with confidentiality rules, no further information was given about the people involved or the health condition of the passenger.
Ursula von der Leyen’s Medical Background
Ursula von der Leyen boasts a long career in the health sector. She graduated from the Medical Faculty of Hannover and worked as a physician assistant at the Women’s Clinic of the Hannover Medical School between 1988 and 1992. In 2001, she received a Master’s degree in Public Health and subsequently served as a research assistant at the Hannover Medical School in the Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine, and Health Medicine Research.
Her swift and effective response to the medical emergency on the flight is a testament to her medical training and experience, and she has been commended for her efforts. This incident underscores the importance of first aid knowledge and how vital it can be in unexpected situations.
