A 77-year-old Dunedin man died on an Air New Zealand flight leaving Dunedin yesterday.
The man collapsed and could not be revived by staff using oxygen, a defibrillator and CPR, Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken, of Dunedin, said.
Staff were helped by a passenger who was a medical doctor.
The man was an Indian national who had New Zealand residency and lived in Dunedin.
He had an existing heart condition, Snr Sgt Aitken said.
Another passenger on the Christchurch-bound plane, which had just taken off, said it was immediately turned around and landed at Dunedin International Airport.
The Air New Zealand staff responded quickly and efficiently to the incident, he said.
The remaining passengers were transferred to the next flight, while Air New Zealand staff from the earlier flight and other emergency services staff who were involved were debriefed on the incident, an Air New Zealand spokesman said.
