‘We have a special bond’: British Airways flight attendants save the life of an 80-year-old passenger who stopped breathing – and make ‘lifelong friends’ with him and his wife (they even met for lunch in Cape Town)

When Malcolm and Marie Hebron, both 80, boarded their British Airways flight from Cape Town to Britain, they had no idea that their “wonderful holiday” was about to turn into a nightmare.

As Malcolm exited the plane on the airlift, he suddenly became seriously unwell and stopped breathing.

Fortunately, young flight attendants Jaydon Stanford-Taylor, 22, and Will Spicer, also a couple, acted quickly and prevented a tragedy.

“I was completely focused on the task at hand: saving a life,” Jay said, describing how Malcolm was resuscitated while his team used a defibrillator and an oxygen machine.

Since last year’s tragedy, the four have formed an unlikely group of ‘lifelong friends’ with ‘a special bond’ – meeting up for lunch in Cape Town. Read on to hear both sides of the story of that fateful day…

Malcolm and Marie Hebron (above), both aged 80, have been married for almost 30 years and were in Cape Town celebrating a friend’s daughter’s birthday when the situation deteriorated and Malcolm stopped breathing

Flight attendant couple Jay Stanford-Taylor (right), 22, and Will Spicer (left) lifted Malcolm to the ground and immediately began CPR, saving his life

What happened? From the flight attendants’ point of view…

Jay and his partner Will had spent 11 hours flying from South Africa to London when the situation worsened.

Jay, who has been with British Airways for two years, told MailOnline Travel: ‘The flight itself was just like a normal working day.

‘We landed back at Heathrow and were in the process of disembarking the plane when someone informed us that one of our customers on our flight was not feeling well on the air bridge attached to the plane.’

Jay and Will ran to the skybridge, a tunnel that connects the plane door to the gate, and saw Malcolm and Marie.

The flight attendant said: ‘Malcolm was in a wheelchair and complaining of chest pains. At the time we chatted for about ten minutes about the flight and their further travel plans, everything seemed fine… until it wasn’t.

‘Malcolm quickly became very unwell and unresponsive, and that’s when our training began.’

Malcolm fell ill on the airlift – a tunnel that connects the plane’s door to the gate. Above – a British Airways Airbus A350 attached to an air bridge (stock photo)

The pair laid Malcolm on the ground and “began an initial assessment of the situation,” when Malcolm suddenly “stopped breathing.” They immediately started CPR.

Jay explains: ‘I was scared, but that quickly went away and my adrenaline and training kicked in.

“I was completely focused on the task at hand: saving a life.”

Jay and Will did everything they could to prevent a tragedy, along with the manager on board. He noted that they quickly settled into their roles and ‘adapted to the situation very quickly’.

The flight attendant described the crowds. He said: ‘I performed chest compressions and Will administered rescue breaths.

‘The rest of the crew was observing and developing an action plan for the next step: setting up the defibrillator and contacting medical professionals while the customers were still disembarking from the flight.’

Fortunately, the outcome of the crew’s efforts was fortunate: 80-year-old Malcolm survived.

“Marie contacted British Airways a few days later to let us know Malcolm was alive and recovering in hospital and to pass on her thanks,” said Jay, 22.

“When we got the news, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was overwhelmed with huge emotions and was so relieved that he was recovering. It was a real ‘breathe again’ moment.”

Concluding his life-saving experience, Jay noted, “When people travel with us, they trust us to keep them safe. I kept Malcolm safe the way I knew how.

‘This day taught me that not every day is the same, that anything can happen at any time of the day.

‘Before this incident I always thought that during an incident I would freeze or hesitate. During this event there was no time for that and I am confident and ready that I could do it again, if and when the need arises.’

Not only were Jay and Will able to help Malcolm through his difficult time, it also resulted in them becoming ‘lifelong’ friends with him and his wife Marie.

The two couples have a “special bond,” Jay said, and even met for lunch, with plans to do so again in the future.

The flight attendant explained, “We became friends quickly. We regularly keep each other updated on what’s new in our lives and we were incredibly fortunate to meet again for lunch in Cape Town!

‘This moment was very special for Will and I, and I’m sure it was for Marie and Malcolm too.

‘We now have a special bond that not everyone experiences and I look forward to our next time together. We have made lifelong friends who are close to our hearts.”

What happened? From the passengers’ point of view…

Malcolm and Marie Hebron, both 80, have been married for almost three decades and were in Cape Town to celebrate the birthday of a friend’s daughter, but had no idea what would happen when they landed at London’s Heathrow.

Not only did Jay and Will manage to help Malcolm (above) in his time of need, but it also resulted in them making ‘lifelong’ friends with him and his wife Marie as he recovered.

Discussing the incident with MailOnline, Marie said: ‘We were feeling happy after a wonderful holiday in Cape Town and were looking forward to returning home.

‘After our flight, when we got off the plane, Malcolm started to feel unwell.

‘He said he couldn’t breathe and had trouble standing. We managed to get a wheelchair for Malcolm to sit in.

“Then Jay and Will, along with the rest of the crew, started disembarking as well and saw that we needed help.”

The cockpit crew took action to check Malcolm’s well-being.

Marie explained: ‘We had spoken to Jay and Will on the flight, along with the in-flight manager, and found them so welcoming on board. So when Jay saw Malcolm and what was happening, he came straight over to help.

“He pulled him out of the chair, I think he yelled at Will to get oxygen, and then he started CPR, followed by the defibrillator.

‘At the same time, the other cabin crew members took me to a nearby side and watched me so I wouldn’t see what was happening.

‘They were amazing and after an 11 hour flight they were determined to stay there to support me. Shortly afterwards we were taken to the ambulance and then to the hospital.’

Marie noted that she had “a lot of mixed emotions” when her husband became ill – “shock, scared, grateful and very happy that Jay and Will were there that day.”

The devoted wife was so relieved when Malcolm recovered that she asked her son to contact the airline.

She explained: ‘My son contacted Sean Doyle, the chairman and CEO of British Airways, to thank the crew for saving Malcolm’s life, because without their help I don’t know where we would be now. From that point on the crew were contacted and the rest is history.

Marie’s son contacted Sean Doyle, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, to thank the crew for saving Malcolm’s life after their flight and they have since met Will and Jay in Cape Town (stock photo)

‘We are still in contact with our cabin crew colleagues, including Will and Jay.

‘Malcolm has recovered well and we have since met them both in Cape Town, which was a truly moving moment, especially given the significance of the destination and the many memories it brought back from that day.’

The couple even hope to see Jay and Will at their home in Brighton, England.

Marie said: ‘We are already organising our next meeting and they know they are always welcome on the South Coast!

“We cannot express our gratitude in words and would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. We owe them a great debt for all their help – without their quick reactions on that day, we would be in a completely different situation than we are today.”

Summing up their terrifying experience, Marie said: ‘Jay, Will and the rest of the crew – thank you so much.’