Motorist collapses at NAIA; causes 30-minute traffic jam

Manila, Philippines - A 60-year-old man collapsed due to heat stroke while driving a van in the middle of a flyover leading to the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA-1) yesterday afternoon.

Carlos Austria hit an owner-type jeep behind him as he collapsed, causing a traffic jam in the area that lasted for more than 30 minutes, Corporal Robert Bagaoisan of the airport police said.

He said the temperature at the time Austria collapsed was 34 degrees Celsius. “Maybe he couldn’t take the heat,” Bagaoisan said.

He said witnesses brought Austria to the NAIA clinic while his passengers proceeded to the airline check-in counters.

Bagaoisan said the incident happened at around 3:50 p.m., when most travelers from the Middle East start to arrive.

Airport medical staff confirmed that Austria suffered heat stroke, but had recovered by around 5 p.m. The traffic flow at the NAIA flyover was back to normal by about 4:30 p.m.