The last thing nurse Lucy Copping expected when she set off on holiday was to be using her work skills in a medical emergency at 30,000 feet.

Lucy, who works on Harvest A ward at Queen’s Hospital, was on a TUI flight to Tenerife to celebrate her mum’s 60th birthday when there was an announcement asking if there was a doctor on board.

No one came forward and as cabin crew made their way along the plane, Lucy informed them she’s a qualified nurse and jumped into action.

A fellow passenger had fainted and was unresponsive but still breathing. An ambulance technician who was also on the flight noted the passenger had low oxygen levels and their blood pressure was dropping.

The woman was slumped in her seat and just coming round, so Lucy used her training and laid her across the seats to elevate her legs and raise her blood pressure.

The passenger’s oxygen levels improved and her blood pressure began to stabilise. Once she was fully alert, she sat back up and the crew consulted doctors on the ground.

They gave two options: to divert the plane to Lisbon or continue the flight, with the decision left in Lucy’s hands.

Based on her fellow traveller’s improvements, she decided a diversion was unnecessary, so the flight continued and the woman remained stable until they arrived safely in Tenerife.

Lucy, who was on her first flight since qualifying as a nurse, was glad she was able to help in that situation:

When the announcement was made and I got up to help, I had no idea what had happened to the passenger until I got to them. I just did what I would do if I was at work and focused on getting the passenger’s vital signs in a good place.

Once she was sat up and had some water, she felt better and I went back to my seat and told the cabin crew to come and get me if she deteriorated.

Knowing she had recovered meant we could enjoy the holiday and my mum’s birthday. It did rain a bit but it was lovely and relaxing.

Soon after returning home, Lucy received a thank you card and flowers from TUI as a token of appreciation for her swift, skilled response.

They said they needed my contact details and I thought I’d have to write a statement – I wasn’t expecting the card and flowers at all but it was really lovely!