Cabin staff battled in vain to save a 57-year-old Bermudian man who died during a flight from New York.

The man, who suffered a cardiac arrest part way through the journey, was pronounced dead by medics after the plane touched down yesterday. According to a woman travelling on Delta flight 652 from LaGuardia, the man was travelling with female family members when he collapsed coming out of the bathroom.

“His daughter screamed ‘can someone help?’ but it was a really empty plane with only 25 to 30 people on it and no doctors on board,” said the 24-year-old, who did not want her name printed. The captain announced there was a medical emergency, and around six members of the plane crew and the man’s family took turns to administer CPR and use a defibrillator for about an hour. “It was a pretty shocking experience to watch but everyone on the plane was really calm and collected and doing what they could to help or stay out of the way,” added the eyewitness.

According to Aaron Adderley, general manager designate at Bermuda International Airport, the crew radioed air traffic control to advise of the situation when they were around 40 minutes away from the Island.

All the emergency services were waiting when the plane landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule at 1.45 p.m, but efforts to revive the unconscious man were unsuccessful.

Police confirmed the man was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name had not been released by press time.