OFW dies in flight from Brunei to RP

MANILA, Philippines - A 65-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) died aboard a flight from Brunei around 30 minutes before the plane landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday.

Nelson Santos died of stomach cancer as he was about to return home after decades of working abroad as an engineer for a Japanese car manufacturer.

Daughter-in-law Gina Santos and daughter Grace Uytioco were accompanying Santos back to the Philippines, apparently after being informed by a doctor of his condition.

Santos underwent examination at the Jerudong Park Medical Center where he was found to have terminal cancer of the duodenum, according to gastroenterologist Dr. D.J. Alexander.

Alexander certified that Santos was fit to travel, which enabled the group to take the Brunei flight yesterday.

“We were about 30 minutes from landing when my father-in-law started vomiting,” said Gina, who is a nurse. She added that a doctor on board assisted Santos, who complained of difficulty in breathing.

However, when the plane was about 20 minutes away from NAIA, Gina said her father-in-law turned blue and died. The doctor tried to give Santos cardio­pulmonary resuscitation, to no avail.

NAIA physician Dr. Ramon Apostol said Santos was dead when he attended to him. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s representative at the NAIA went to the airport clinic to lend assistance to the victim’s family.

Gina said they will bring the body to Malolos for burial.           – Rudy Santos