KUCHING: The identity of the woman who was among those who helped save a man’s life after he collapsed at Kuching International Airport (KIA) on April 30 has finally been revealed.
However, she has humbly requested to remain unnamed.
After 10 days of searching, Timberland Medical Centre (TMC) cardiologist, Dr Tang Sie Hing, confirmed that the woman, seen performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the 55-year-old man known as Mr Law from Sibu, is indeed a staff of TMC.
“I have found her and received confirmation that the lady in the picture was her. She is a staff member at TMC. Today she gave me her personal account of the event.
“She was on the same flight as Mr Law, travelling from Sibu via AirAsia to Kuching. She saw Mr Law collapsed and immediately she and a male doctor together with other allied health professionals took turns to do CPR, and three shocks were delivered by automated external defibrillator (AED).
“The medical assistants (MA) and nurses then arrived on scene, and Mr Law was taken to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) immediately,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Dr Tang further said the woman declined any form of recognition or gratitude, and wished to remain anonymous.
“I respect her wishes, and I hope this ends the journey of looking for this awesome lady,” he said.
On Friday, the woman was among the four individuals who have been hailed as heroes for their life-saving efforts for assisting in performing CPR and AED on Law.
Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, said he was informed that the four individuals were Rafidah Putit, a senior nurse from the Kuching Divisional Health Office; Frankton Bagat, an assistant medical officer from the same office; a medical assistant from Timberland Medical Centre who opted to remain anonymous; and a doctor from Sibu Hospital, whose name is still being confirmed.
During the incident at the airport at 11:30 am, one of the rescuers, a young woman, was captured in a video that has since gone viral, showing her performing CPR on the collapsed passenger.
Law, who had undergone a scope procedure in Sibu on April 29, had continued to experience severe pain and flew to Kuching the next morning.
He collapsed shortly after landing and exiting the domestic arrival hall.
Upon the man’s family request, Dr Tang who later attended to Law, performed an emergency coronary angioplasty after discovering that two of the latter’s vessels were 100 per cent blocked, and ad hoc coronary angioplasty was done and the heart was stabilised.
Law has since regained full consciousness and suffered no neurological damage.
Dr Tang, in a Facebook post on May 2, shared the family’s request to find and thank the young woman who did the CPR.
As the story spread, more names of those who assisted came to light, prompting an outpouring of praise and gratitude online.
In a separate post on May 6, Dr Tang said his post on the lady who did CPR has attracted media attention, and it has been shared by Alisha Rahaman Sarkar in the United Kingdom.
“The intention of the Facebook post was meant to find the lady whom the family members wanted to extend their deepest gratitude. As the days have gone by, we have been informed of other remarkable human beings and medical officer who helped the patient on that day.
“The initial account was reported to me by Madam Ling who was there to pick up Mr Law. Her witness account was her accurate assessment of the situation then, but later as the Facebook post was shared, we have received numerous updates from other bystanders and witnesses.
“Thank you very much to all of you who assisted Mr Law at the airport. Not only you all saved a precious life and made a family happy; you all affirm to us that the world can be a better place because of people such as you,” he said.
