TAP employee dies while showering at end of shift at Porto airport

A Groundforce/TAP employee died this Thursday at the Francisco Sa Carneiro airport in Maya. The man felt ill at the end of his shift while taking a shower in the airport locker rooms.

According to the Portuguese Transport Workers’ Union, it was the airport’s emergency policy that prevented the man from receiving medical assistance in a timely manner. This is because airport protocols state that the internal nurse must be called first before INEM can be notified. According to what they say CMMedical assistance arrived only 40 minutes after the man became ill.

ANA Aeroportos said in a statement that “there is no procedure that prohibits INEM from calling directly in emergency situations, especially in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest.”

Read the statement in full: “It is with deep regret that we mourn the death of a Groundforce worker at Porto Airport and extend our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues. In accordance with the plan of action in emergency situations and in situations requiring prompt assistance.” The first aid station is expected to contact the Airport Emergency Center to contact INEM and expedite entry into restricted areas when necessary, which is what happened. There is no procedure that would prevent INEM from being called directly in emergency situations, namely in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest. Once the incident became known, the first aid station arrived on the scene within 9 minutes, INEM was called and arrived to the airport 22 minutes after the initial registration of the incident. The ANA clearly considers assistance and first aid a priority for everyone who frequents airports.”