Doctor from Astana saves elderly passenger during flight to Moscow

Karlygash Bakirova, a doctor from Kazakhstan, saved an 85-year-old passenger’s life during a flight from Astana to Moscow. She carried out a resuscitation procedure and insisted on an emergency landing. The incident happened on Jan. 24 on a flight operated by the Kazakh air carrier SCAT.

«During the flight, Viktor Karpin, 85, who was traveling with his grandson, began to feel unwell and almost fainted. Upon noticing his worsening condition, the flight attendants called for a doctor via the intercom. Karlygash Bakirova, an Astana Medical University graduate and otoneurologist, responded to the call immediately and rushed to help,» Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare said in a statement.     

The patient suffered from hypertension. Upon examination, Bakirova found that his blood pressure had dropped to a critical level, with his pulse becoming imperceptible.

«The situation called for immediate action. Bakirova performed resuscitation procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which temporarily stabilized the passenger’s condition. She also insisted on an emergency landing, and the crew decided to land at the nearest airport, in the city of Ufa,» the statement read.  

Upon landing, the patient was handed over to doctors, and his condition later stabilized. Bakirova stayed in contact with the passenger’s grandson, who confirmed the improvement of his grandfather’s condition and the medical personnel’s proficiency.

So far, this marks the second time an Astana Medical University graduate saved a life mid-flight. Dinmukhamed Bekturganov, an intern at the university, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and saved a passenger’s life during a flight from Kyzylorda to Astana.