Miss Universe New Zealand finalist and fourth-year Otago medical student Deborah Lambie rushed to assist a fellow passenger on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Auckland this week.
She was sitting across the aisle from retired Kerikeri teacher Alex Reid when he fainted in his seat. Miss Lambie (22) was the first person with any medical training to assist him.
''He had completely lost consciousness and was drenched in sweat, and the people sitting next to him were panicking and screaming out for help.
''It was quite frightening and I thought although I'm not finished my study, I might be more help than someone who doesn't know anything about medicine,'' she said.
Miss Lambie checked Mr Reid's pulse and breathing, and monitored his condition until a doctor sitting in the back of the plane came to help.
She was relieved to hear a senior doctor was on the flight.
''For a while, I thought something really bad was going to happen and I was the only person with any medical training on board. It was a 12-hour flight and we were about three hours in, so I'm just really pleased he was OK and there was a good outcome.''
Otahuhu doctor Sameera Moonesinghe, who helped revive Mr Reid with Miss Lambie's help, said the situation was serious.
''He [Mr Reid] was slipping in and out of consciousness and was incoherent and unresponsive.''
Dr Moonesinghe said people could die if they fainted while seated and did not receive help.
The incident occurred at about 36,000ft, but by the time the flight landed in Auckland on Wednesday, Mr Reid was fine.
He was grateful to Dr Moonesinghe and Miss Lambie.
''I'm back to full health,'' Mr Reid said yesterday.
Miss Universe New Zealand executive director Nigel Godfrey, who was also on board and alerted a flight attendant to the medical emergency, said Miss Lambie was unfazed by the commotion.
''Well, Deborah certainly followed our slogan `Keep Calm and Wear a Tiara','' he said.
''One of our major aims was to break the long-held stereotype that girls who enter competitions like this are bimbos,'' Mr Godfrey said.
''If this incident doesn't prove that [they are not], then I don't know what will.''
Miss Lambie said she responded to the emergency as any medical professional should.
''One thing you are taught at medical school is that in a situation like this you simply can't stand back. You have to go in, as it could mean the difference between life and death.''
She and other Miss Universe New Zealand finalists, including Henali Patel, of Dunedin, and Kristie Leonard, of Balclutha, went to Thailand as part of the competition.
The 20 finalists had their bikini photos taken while overseas and also appeared on Thai television.
They were accompanied by Thailand's ambassador to New Zealand, Noppadon Theppitak, who will be a guest of honour at the competition final at Sky City in Auckland on October 5.
Mr Reid and his partner, as well as Dr Moonesinghe, have also been invited as guests to the event, which will be broadcast live on television.
The winner will eventually travel to Moscow for the Miss Universe contest.
