Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN/@MAFAPOBOGOTA
This is the moment an American passenger collapses at a Colombian airport and dies in front of his screaming wife who claims officials ignored his condition for 20 minutes.
The incident was filmed at the El Dorado Luis Carlos Galan Sarmiento International Airport, serving the central Colombian capital Bogota.
In the footage, the 54-year-old American, identified as Joe Seal, is seen being attended to as his wife watches through the glass barrier.
Meanwhile, a crowd of people shout at airport staff and accuse them of not helping the passenger.
The video was shared by the association ‘Mothers of Soacha and Bogota’ (Mafao) who said: “People asked for help for over 20 minutes and the airport staff did nothing.”
The association added that the American passenger was taken to hospital in an ambulance “half an hour after collapsing”.
The victim’s wife Gina Seal told local media: “They did not help him. He arrived fatigued and sat on the conveyor belt, but a security guard told him to sit on a chair. I asked them to let me in but they wouldn’t.”
Eyewitness Omar Vasquez said: “We saw the man asking for help. His wife started hitting the glass, asking the staff to help him, but no one reacted. They even looked at the lady with disdain.”
An airport spokesperson confirmed that the man was first helped by a passenger and then a medical team following emergency protocols.
Reports said that Mr Seal was transferred to a nearby hospital, but was announced dead on arrival.
According to local media, a group of protesters assembled at the airport on Saturday to demand the release of all the available CCTV footage, details of the emergency protocols in place, and the names of the staff members involved.
It is currently unclear whether the local authorities are investigating the incident.
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