By Edwin Nwachukwu
A Nigerian, identified as Gunseye Adekunle, 50, of New Jersey, collapsed and died on July 13 at the JFK International Airport in New York.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes local media as reporting that the man died after suffering a heart attack at Terminal 4 of the airport while preparing to board an Arik Air flight to Nigeria.
The two teams of first responders failed to reach him because their electronic identity cards could not open the secure doors at the newly renovated Delta terminal.
“A call went out for help but what happened next was a massive mix-up. You had all the assets needed to keep this guy alive, but they never really had the chance to help him.
“A Port Authority police emergency operator got the call at about 6:30 a.m. and was told Adekunle was “unresponsive” but breathing.
“One minute later, a PAPD ambulance known as Medical One was dispatched but the crew reported being unable to enter the terminal from the street two minutes afterward because an officer’s security card wasn’t working.
“The trouble delayed the Medical One team for two vital minutes, but then they were able to get into the building by another route and get to Adekunle,’’ the media quoted a law enforcement source as saying.
It stated that the second rescue squad also ran into frustrating issues with security doors.
“At about 7:10, the Fire Department responders were denied entry when the security system refused to recognise an identity access card used by a PA cop escorting them.
“The delay robbed the dying man of more precious seconds.
“Seconds are critical when responding to a cardiac event and unfortunately, unnecessary obstacles take away those critical seconds and possibly a patient’s fighting chance,” the media also quoted a source familiar with the incident as saying.
The North America Correspondent of NAN, however, learnt that no family member has come for the deceased.
