Flight tragedy

A former Perth nurse says four doctors spent more than two hours trying to resuscitate a two-month-old baby girl who died on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Perth.

A former Perth nurse says four doctors spent more than two hours trying to resuscitate a two-month-old baby girl who died on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Perth.

A plane passenger has revealed the desperate fight to save a baby girl who fell ill and died on an AirAsia flight to Perth this morning.

Nadia Parenzee said the two-month-old baby, called Farah, had cried persistently from when flight D7236 left Kuala Lumpur shortly after midnight.

Ms Parenzee, a former nurse from Atwell, said she offered to help Farah’s young parents, who were distressed at being unable to soothe their young baby.

“They gave me the baby and I just went ‘oh my goodness, this baby is grey’. The baby wasn’t breathing properly,” she said.

“I thought this is going to be a medical emergency. I put the baby on the counter where they prepare the food. I felt her pulse and breath and thought ‘oh my god, this baby is dying’.”

Ms Parenzee said she alerted a flight attendant that the baby needed medical attention and a call went out for any doctors on board.

Four doctors then spent the next two and a half hours, until the aeroplane landed in Perth, trying to resuscitate the baby girl.

“They took it in turns. They were exhausted,” she said.

Ms Parenzee said the baby tragically passed away on the aircraft.

The flight crew also called for paramedics to meet the aircraft when it landed in Perth at 5.35am.

St John Ambulance said it received the emergency call at 5am and went to the airport with police officers.

AirAsia has confirmed there was a medical emergency involving an infant on board flight D7236.

“The safety and wellbeing of our guests is always our number one priority, and in accordance with procedure, the flight crew requested medical assistance on landing at Perth International Airport,” a spokesman for the airline said.

“Upon arrival, the aircraft was met by a team of medical specialists and the relevant authorities, including the West Australian Police.

“We are unable to comment further on the infants' medical situation, however our thoughts are with the infant and family involved.”

Ms Parenzee commended the AirAsia crew’s handling of the tragic situation.

“Every staff member was absolutely amazing,” she said.

Ms Parenzee said the parents told her they were from Saudi Arabia and were starting a new life in Australia with their baby daughter.

“The parents were absolutely besides themselves. The mother was crying so much, saying ‘this is my baby’,” she said.

WA Police said the baby girl’s death was not being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.

Originally published as Flight tragedy