James McElvar passes out on EasyJet flight after wearing 12 layers to avoid luggage fee

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James McElvar was flying to Glasgow when told he had too much luggage
EasyJet staff said he'd either have to pay £45 or bin his clothes to get on
Decided he'd wear them all instead - including five pairs of trousers
Body temperature went through the roof, causing him to have a fit and pass out while airborne

Published: 04:14 EST, 10 July 2015 | Updated: 05:38 EST, 10 July 2015

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A member of a boyband who wanted to avoid an excess luggage fee passed out on board an easyJet flight after donning all his clothes so he didn't have to pay a £45 sub-charge.

James McElvar, a singer with Scottish five-piece Rewind, thought he was having a heart attack when he lost consciousness at 37,000 feet flying from London to Glasgow.

Little did he know he'd passed out from heat exhaustion - having dressed himself in six t-shirts, four jumpers, three pairs of jeans, two pairs of jogging bottoms, a pair of jackets and two hats.

The singer admitted that he could barely even walk on to the plane after putting on all of his clothes - to avoid paying £45

James (left) sits with his band mates at Stansted Airport before he was forced to don all his clothes, which then caused him to pass out from heat exhaustion

The 19-year-old entertainer was told he was carrying too much luggage - a rucksack and small suitcase - when he reached the gate at Stansted Airport on Wednesday.

His only options were to fork out almost £50 for excess baggage, bin his threads, or wear them all.

Three hours later, he was in an ambulance.

James said: 'The woman told me either one of my bags went in the hold or we weren't getting on.

'The rest of the band had gone through so I couldn't give them any of my clothes.'

James' (pictured) only options were to fork out almost £50 for excess baggage, bin his threads, or wear them all

With his options limited, the Cumbernauld singer eventually opted to board his easyJet flight wearing 12 layers of clothing

With his options limited, the Cumbernauld singer eventually opted to board wearing 12 layers of clothing.

'I felt it was my only option to put on everything,' James told MailOnline.

'It was impossible to walk, I could barely get on the plane. I wanted to take them all off as soon as I got to my seat - beside which was a spare seat that I could have sat one of my bags on - but was told I had to wait until we were up in the air.'

He started undressing as the plane was taking off, but his body temperature had already soared.

When airborne, he then complained to the group's manager that he was incredibly warm, sweating profusely, light headed and feeling sick.

Cabin crew were notified, and he was offered him an empty row at the rear of the plane. Without any sick bags on board, he was given a transparent bin bag in case he vomited.

He was then violently sick, somehow missing the plastic bag.

That required him to be moved again, with air hostesses reseating him in the middle of the plane.

Once there, he passed out, landing in the aisle where he was put in the recovery position.

James McElvar singing the Friends theme with his band Rewind

James (middle) stands alongside his Rewind bandmates, who've just signed with London label Roar Global

He was treated by an off-duty paramedic who was fortunately on the same flight as he and his Rewind band mates.

The singer - who goes by the name Jim - added: 'I knew something was wrong early on as I just couldn't breath properly I thought I was having a heart attack.

'It was a nightmare. I passed out twice and was taken off the plane at Glasgow Airport to a waiting ambulance.'

EasyJet operate a strict policy in regards to hold luggage weight and size.

Passengers checked-in luggage can weigh no more than 32kg due to what the airline refers to as 'health and safety restrictions'.

The popular up-and-coming group took to Twitter to let their fans know that James was doing well

He was said to still be in 'shock' after the incident - in which he had a fit and passed out at 37,000 feet

However, travellers can add an additional weight allowance for between £12 and £22 prior to their day of boarding.

However, if they choose to do so at the airport, they pay either £32 at bag drop or £45 at the gate.

EasyJet confirmed that the option was available to James to check in an extra bag at a cost.

A spokesperson said: 'In this instance the passenger had two items of cabin baggage which he could not combine into the allocated bag allowance and as such he was asked to either combine his baggage into one bag or pay £45 to check the bag into the hold.

'During the flight Mr McElvar became unwell and our crew on board assisted him. We wish him a speedy recovery.'

The singer's band mates have since confirmed online that their vocalist is on the road to recovery, posting on Twitter that he is 'home safe' after being looked after in hospital.

James' ordeal was the second panic the band - who have just signed to the Roar Global label - endured in just over 24 hours.

On their outbound journey to London, the car three of the band were travelling in was written off after plunging into a ditch near Erskine.

James added: 'We're playing in Manchester tonight, this time going by train. We'll see how that goes.'