[Trigger Warning]
Doctors Boo Chin Fong and Tan Pei Jun, both 34, were traveling with their five-year-old son when an emergency announcement called for medical assistance aboard a Singapore Airlines flight. The couple had responded to a minor medical issue on a domestic flight just days earlier, but they quickly realized this situation was far more serious.
The patient, a man in his fifties, had reportedly been unconscious for about two minutes before Dr Tan reached him. Although he regained consciousness, he was struggling to breathe and speak due to severe swelling of his tongue and lips. The medical team recorded a blood oxygen level of 88 percent and a pulse rate of 38 beats per minute. “It was one of the slowest we have ever seen,” Tan recalled. Combined with the swelling and breathing difficulties, the symptoms strongly suggested a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
The situation became even more complicated after the man’s wife explained that he had a hole in his heart, had recently suffered a stroke, and was taking heart-related medication. That medical history made the decision to administer epinephrine—the standard emergency treatment for anaphylaxis—extremely risky. Dr Boo explained that if the man’s condition stemmed from a cardiac event rather than an allergic reaction, the medication could potentially worsen his condition.
Before administering epinephrine, the doctors first attempted oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids while consulting with a ground-based telemedicine team. Meanwhile, the flight crew repeatedly checked whether an emergency landing would be necessary. Ultimately, the final decision rested with the couple. “It’s your call, doctor,” the ground team told them. As the patient’s swelling worsened and his breathing continued to deteriorate, the doctors concluded that the risk of delaying treatment outweighed the potential dangers of the medication.
After administering the epinephrine injection, the man began showing signs of recovery almost immediately. “We tried our best, but the EpiPen is what truly saved him,” Dr Tan said. “Without it, he definitely wouldn’t be here anymore.” Despite the successful outcome, the couple later acknowledged the enormous pressure of making life-or-death decisions in such an unpredictable environment, especially outside their usual medical specialties.
The couple remained “on duty” for the rest of the 10-hour flight, monitoring the passenger every 15 minutes at first and later hourly until the plane landed safely in Singapore. Dr Boo said their professional oath and ability to rely on one another helped them remain calm under pressure. He also clarified that photographs taken during the incident were not souvenirs, but medical records used to document the timing of treatment for the patient’s continued care.
After returning home to Malaysia, Dr Boo shared the experience on social media, where the story quickly went viral. While many praised the pair as heroes, Dr Tan admitted she continues to reflect deeply on the decisions they made during the emergency. “I’m still thinking whether what I did was right… I’m still ruminating whether I made a good decision or a bad decision,” she said. Despite the emotional exhaustion of the ordeal, the couple later joked that they hope their next family vacation involves a far less eventful flight.
We congratulate Drs Tan and Boo for stepping up and saving a man’s life from anaphylaxis, even though his medical history was complicated and daunting. They are true heroes.
As always, if you have been prescribed epinephrine, be sure to two doses along everywhere, every time, including when traveling. Administer the first when you first suspect anaphylaxis, as the sooner you administer the drug, the better the outcome.
