Nurse speaks out about desperate attempts to save cerebral palsy boy who died on Delta flight

  • Dan Goslin, a nurse, along with doctor and a midwife were all aboard a plane on which a teenager died Saturday
  • They tried to save the boy when he went into cardiac arrest 30 minutes after take-off
  • Goslin said, 'Everything we tried just really didn't work'
  • The 16-year-old boy, who suffered from cerebral palsy, went into cardiac arrest 30 minutes after takeoff, causing the plane to be diverted
  • A flight attendant performed CPR as the plane made an emergency landing, until paramedics took over on the ground
  • The boy's father is now meeting the rest of his family in Spokane

By Ryan Gorman, Associated Press Reporter and Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 17:21 EST, 8 December 2013 | UPDATED: 17:21 EST, 8 December 2013

A registered nurse aboard a flight on which a 16-year-old boy died Saturday has spoken about his desperate attempts to help save the boy.

Dan Goslin was sitting about 15 rows behind the teenager when crew began calling for anyone with medical training to come and help the teenager, who had cerebral palsy and may have suffered from birth defects.

Goslin told WSBTV that he and two other passengers, a doctor and a midwife, did everything they could to revive the boy.

Dan Goslin says he and two other passengers, a doctor and a nurse midwife, did all they could to save the teen who died on the Delta flight.

Medical aid: Dan Goslin, a nurse, along with a doctor and a midwife tried desperately to save the 16-year-old boy who died on board a Delta flight yesterday

'He was having trouble breathing. We tried oxygen. That didn't work. We tried to move him out of the chair and get him to another position. That didn't work and everything we tried just really didn't work,' Goslin said.

The teen boy, who suffered from cerebral palsy, went into cardiac after a medical emergency 30 minutes after take-off from Seattle, Spokane Fire Department spokesperson Brian Schaeffer told MailOnline.

The boy was flying with his mother, grandmother and another sibling to visit his father, who is stationed at McChord Air Force Base, for Christmas, according to Mr Schaeffer.

 

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‘The majority of the family went on the plane to fly down to Georgia this afternoon,’ he added.

There is no indication as to why the unidentified boy had the medical emergency, but passenger Joe Ryan, of Atlanta, told MailOnline the flight crew notified people on-board the boy had cerebral palsy.

Washington State patient-confidentiality rules prohibit local officials from divulging such information outside of a coroner’s report, said Mr Schaeffer, but he did say there was nothing in his medical history to suggest such an incident was to be expected.

On the ground: Emergency personnel with the Tacoma Fire Department race to the plane to try to save the boy's life

On the ground: Emergency personnel with the Tacoma Fire Department race to the plane to try to save the boy's life

'It was an unexpected event by any means,' he said.

The boy and his family were sitting at the back of the plane when they began calling for help, said Mr Ryan.

The flight crew immediately sprung into action. Despite the dire circumstances, everyone – including passengers – remained calm and collected throughout.

‘It was calm and the male flight attendants rushed to his aid at the back of the plane,’ said Mr Ryan. ‘They started performing CPR on him… the pilot got on the air and said we are going to have an emergency landing.’

‘We were on the ground in five minutes... I think that they did everything they could to save that boy’s life,' Mr Ryan added.

Emergency personnel were already on their way when the plane touched down.

‘We met them on the ground with our fire fighter paramedics and attempted resuscitate him for well over 30 minutes,’ Mr Schaeffer said.

‘Paramedics rushed on to the plane, you could tell there was a lot of urgency… then everything calmed down and you could put two and two together,’ Mr Ryan lamented.

The boy was pronounced dead on the plane.

Diverted: A Delta plane similar to this one was diverted Saturday to Spokane International Airport as the boy went into cardiac arrest

Diverted: A Delta plane similar to this one was diverted Saturday to Spokane International Airport as the boy went into cardiac arrest


His body was removed by ladder from the back of the plane, according to Mr Ryan.

The deceased boy’s devastated family was put up in a local hotel which is being paid for by charities linked to the Spokane Fire and Police Departments, as well as Spokane International Airport.

The father is expected to arrive in Spokane early Saturday evening.

‘We’re doing everything we can for them,’ Mr Schaeffer said.

A preliminary cause of death has not yet been determined, but an autopsy is expected to take place within 24 hours.

A Delta spokesperson told MailOnline the flight, which originally had about 250 passengers is expected resume later Saturday and land in Atlanta about seven hours later than its originally scheduled time.

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Terrible tragedy, I hope teh family realise there doesn't appear to be much more anyone could of done for the lad. RIP son...

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Despite all efforts to save the boy the airline will now be sued by the family. This much is certain.

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Very bad reporting on this article - they need to get their facts straight. The plane took off from Seattle, WA heading EAST and landed in Spokane, WA (300 miles due east of Seattle) yet the family was going to visit Dad who is stationed at McChord AFB is what the story says. McChord AFB is about 40 miles due SOUTH of Seattle so either the father is not at McChord or the plane was sure headed in the wrong direction. My husband and I were stationed at McChord (adjacent to Tacoma, WA), we lived in both Seattle and near Spokane so I know the area well and the story is dead wrong on locations and their relationship to each other.

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RIP young man. A horrid situation.

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I wonder if TSA had to screen the emergency teams before they let them enter the plane?

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The comment about CPR only being successful 3%-5% of the time is untrue. It varies from 8% to 37% depending upon the circumstances (unwitnessed to witnessed) and if a defibrilator is available. Ventilations in a child that is not breathing is their only chance for survival, obstructed airway or not. I am sure the R.N. tried. Very tragic.

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Very sad and tragic. It must of been horrendous for the family. May they find solace and comfort in light of this tragedy. May the young boy rest in peace.

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CPR is successfully less than 3 to 5 percent so don't beat yourself up over it.

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not true

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Thank you to this man who tried to save him; it will help his mum and dad and sibling who were there with him to know that everything that could be done was tried. Rest in peace, dear young man.

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While it was nice of this man and the others to come to this boy's aid, am I the only one who thinks he shouldn't be talking to the media?

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