A United States-based Kenyan mental health practitioner has shared a chilling account of a sudden health scare that nearly derailed her journey to London, highlighting the unpredictability of medical emergencies during long-haul flights.
Linda Chebet Gormez narrated the experience in a detailed Facebook post, revealing how she unexpectedly required supplemental oxygen midway through a transatlantic flight from Los Angeles.
The incident, she said, came without warning despite her feeling healthy at the start of the journey.
According to her account, the flight began normally, with passengers settling in after takeoff and preparing for the overnight trip.
Gormez and her husband were reportedly in high spirits, even discussing future travel plans.
However, about five hours into the flight, she began experiencing symptoms including nausea and dizziness.
Initially dismissing the discomfort as minor, she attempted to adjust her seating position, hoping the feeling would pass.
Moments later, her condition worsened.
“I told my husband I needed to go to the restroom because I felt like I was going to throw up,” she wrote. That, she said, was the last moment she clearly remembered before losing consciousness.
She later regained awareness to find herself lying on the aircraft floor, surrounded by flight attendants and concerned passengers.
Her legs had been elevated as part of emergency response measures, and crew members were asking her basic orientation questions to assess her condition.
Gormez said she was eventually assisted back to her seat, where she was placed on an oxygen mask — a moment she described as the point when the seriousness of the situation became clear.
“As frightening as it was for me, watching my husband may have been even harder,” she noted, describing the visible concern on his face during the ordeal.
While she did not disclose the exact medical cause of the episode, Gormez emphasized the emotional and psychological impact of the incident, noting that it fundamentally shifted her perspective on life.
She used the experience to urge people to prioritize their well-being and relationships, warning against postponing important aspects of life under the assumption that there will always be more time.
Her story has since drawn widespread attention online, with many users praising the swift response of the flight crew and fellow passengers, as well as her candid reflection on vulnerability and resilience.