Off-Duty Nurse Saves 3-Month-Old Baby After She Stops Breathing on Flight

In today’s heartwarming story, an off-duty nurse saved a three-month-old infant who became unresponsive about 30 minutes after takeoff on Spirit Airlines Flight 1691 from Pittsburgh to Orlando.

Tamara Panzino, a 20-year nurse, gave three-month-old baby Anjelé massages to her legs and chest to revive her.

FOX 35 meteorologist Ian Cassette was aboard the flight.

“On my flight back from Pittsburgh to Orlando, a baby stopped breathing three rows ahead of me. Thankfully a nurse (Tamara Panzino) was able to get the baby to breathe again,” he wrote on Twitter, alongside video of dad and smiling baby Anjele, at the front of the plane, as the passengers clap and cheer.

On my flight back from Pittsburgh to Orlando, a baby stopped breathing three rows ahead of me. Thankfully a nurse (Tamara Panzino) was able to get the baby to breathe again. (1) pic.twitter.com/6oDgFCG7FS

— Ian Cassette FOX 35 (@iancassette_wx) September 9, 2022

Also the flight attendants should be commended for their quick action for helping as well! @SpiritAirlines

— Ian Cassette FOX 35 (@iancassette_wx) September 9, 2022

Fox 35 reported:

Panzino, who has been a nurse for more than 20 years, told FOX 35 that the medical emergency started about 30 minutes after the plane took off. She jumped into action and started massaging the baby’s chest and legs, and soon, the baby started breathing again.

“When you have to step forward and do what’s right, you do it. It was just a happy story, and it made me feel really good,” said Panzino.

Ian spoke with the parents off-camera after the plane landed.

“The parents of three month old Anjelé were terrified and had never experienced this before. They praised the positive energy of the plane and the heroic actions of Tamara for saving her,” he said in a Twitter thread. Ian also commended the flight crew for their “quick action for helping as well.”

“It remains unclear what caused the newborn’s respiratory issues. The baby girl’s parents, who have not been named, said that they had never previously experienced anything similar to what happened on Thursday,” the Daily Mail noted.

In a statement, Spirit Airlines communicated: “We’re currently gathering information to learn more. We thank our crew and guest for the quick response.”

“Our Flight Attendants are trained to respond to medical emergencies onboard and utilize several resources, including communicating with our designated on-call medical professionals on the ground, using onboard medical kits, and receiving assistance from credentialed medical professionals traveling on the flight.”

According to Flight Radar 24, the flight did not have to stop for an emergency landing.

From Fox 35:

WESH 2 News also reported on the nurse’s heroic actions: