Coroner calls for defibrillators on aircraft after mother of two died three hours into flight to Lanzarote

Davina Tavener, aged 47, was travelling to the holiday destination with her husband Andrew when she fell ill about three hours into the flight, an inquest heard.

Mr Tavener became concerned for his wife after she did not return from the toilet.

Members of the cabin crew then opened the door to find Mrs Tavener had collapsed. It is thought she had an undiagnosed heart condition.

A consultant breast surgeon at the Royal Bolton Hospital who was on the flight tried to help cabin crew and other passengers save her but they were unable to do so.

Mr Tavener told Bolton Coroners Court that as far as he was aware, his wife was healthy, other than complaining of minor stomach ache in the week before the flight.

Royal Bolton medic Clare Garnsey told the court said she could not feel a pulse and believed that Mrs Tavener had died while on the plane.

The aircraft continued on to land, and on arrival paramedics entered the aircraft and took her to hospital.

Coroner Alan Walsh ruled that the cause of death was unknown — and that she died of a naturally occurring disease.

Ms Garnsey told the court she was surprised that there was not a defibrillator onboard, describing them as critical to survival in cardiac events.

She said: "I did ask for a defibrillator, because if it’s a cardiac issue that's the best chance of survival, and it was quite a surprise this wasn't there.”

Airlines are not currently required to have defibrillators on board by law.

Two representatives of Ryanair who appeared at the inquest, Captain Chris Grube, regional air base manager, and Eva Roharikova, chief instructor of safety, both said they could not comment on the possibility of introducing defibrillators on the airline.

The court was told that Mrs Tavener worked for HSBC and frequently travelled abroad, recently visiting Hong Kong, China and Thailand in the weeks running up to her death.

Mrs Tavener, of Sutherland Road, Heaton, was born in Burnley but moved to Bolton as a child.

She graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in foreign languages and business, and was described as a "very intelligent and successful woman".

Mr Walsh said Ryanair staff had followed all safety protocols and paid tribute to Ms Garnsey and others who helped.

He said: "I cannot speak more highly of the involvement Ms Garnsey and those others who participated in the resuscitation process.

"I include in that comment, members of Ryanair cabin crew.

"In relation to Mrs Tavener's death, it is difficult to know whether any equipment would have assisted, because there was a five to 10 minute period when she was in the toilet, and it’s not known for how long she was unresponsive."

Mr Walsh said he would be writing to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Irish Aviation Authority, about the possibility of installing defibrillators onboard, as well as a bag valve mask, airway adjuncts, and suction equipment, to provide more dignity to people being treated on an aircraft.

As Ryanair is based in Ireland, its safety policies are checked by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Mr Walsh added: "I don't believe there is any difference between short haul flights and long haul flights.

“It takes a second to have a cardiac event and sadly cardiac events don't choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight, it can happen at any time.

"If you are, by the nature of air travel, trapped in aircraft without access to any other facility, the authorities need to consider the equipment to be carried on those airlines, whether it’s short haul or long haul."

Following the hearing, Philip Chadbond, Mrs Tavener's brother, said: "She died in very unfortunate circumstances, but if there is any chance that the airlines could make this change, which could save someone's life, that would be a positive outcome."

A spokesman for Ryanair said: "While we don’t comment on legal matters, Ryanair meets all regulatory requirements in terms of medical assistance provided on its flights and is not legally required to carry defibrillators on board.

"All our crews are trained in first aid and are responsible for the safety and security of the cabin.

"Should an incident occur in flight which requires medical intervention, our crew divert to the nearest suitable airport and request medical assistance to be on standby before landing.

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family.”