Pakistani doctor saves Chinese woman’s life mid-air

Muhammad Shahbaz, a PhD student in China, attended the patient on flight from Beijing to Paris

BEIJING: A Pakistani student studying at China’s Shangdong University School of Medicine saved the life of a Chinese passenger during a flight from Beijing to Paris on July 2.

Muhammad Shahbaz, a PhD student, heard one of the crew members requesting assistance of a medical professional to treat a Chinese woman who was shivering and in distress during the flight, China Daily reported on Tuesday.

The Pakistani student approached a stewardess who took him to the ailing woman and told her that he was a doctor and could also speak Chinese.



According to Shahbaz, the woman was suffering from severe vomiting, stress and hypothermia, which was challenging as the resources aboard the plane were limited.

While he attended the patient, arrangements were made on the ground for an emergency landing in case complications arose – an ambulance and medical staff were in contact throughout the flight duration.

The woman started feeling better within three hours and was in a good state by the last two hours of the flight.

The cabin crew gave Shahbaz a round of applause and the chief of staff awarded him 10,000 Air France mileage points, thanking him for saving the woman’s life.



"I am used to seeing this in movies but it happened in real life, and being the only doctor on the flight, I felt proud of my profession for being able to save a person’s life,” Shahbaz said, terming it the best day of his life. “I am proud to be a doctor and proud to be Pakistani."

The woman, 26, identified as Li Xuan, also thanked Shahbaz for his efforts after she made a full recovery the following day.

“There is a Chinese saying that ‘saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda’. Thank you Dr Shahbaz for helping me while I was in distress,” she said.