Man Utd star praised for helping sick plane passenger

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes smiles during a training session at Carrington Training Centre.Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

The Premier League star stepped in to help on the trip from Manchester to Lisbon

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been praised for his "really lovely" intervention after coming to the aid of an unwell passenger who almost collapsed on a flight.

Those on the EasyJet flight from Manchester to Lisbon described seeing the footballer get up from his seat before helping to catch the man who had fallen ill.

Susanna Lawson, 49, was sitting on the row just behind Fernandes and said she thought he had got up "presumably to go to the toilet".

But she then turned around to see him catch the man who "looked like he was passing out" before the Premier League star called for help from stewards.

"The other stewards went running up the plane to help and luckily there was a spare seat right at the back, so they all got the gentleman into the seat," she said.

"Bruno stayed with him, for, I think - I lost track of time - five or 10 minutes."

Composure

Businesswoman Ms Lawson was travelling to the Portuguese capital on Monday for a technology conference with other delegates from Manchester.

She confirmed the unwell man was "absolutely fine", managing to stand up and walk back through the plane, and she commended the midfielder for his composure during the incident.

"I think it was just, 'oh my goodness, what are the chances of somebody being poorly right when the Man United captain is standing right in front of you?'," she said.

"What an absolutely lovely man. He did it and didn't make a big deal out of it. The stewards just called for help and help came."

Shortly after landing, Ms Lawson took a selfie with Fernandes and Manchester United team-mate Diogo Dalot, who was also on the plane.

"I basically said to Bruno, 'what you did back there was really lovely, it was great that you were there to be able to help'," she said.

"It's just nice to be reminded that [celebrities] are just normal people out there."

She said she was "quite excited" when she spotted Fernandes boarding the plane, despite being a Manchester City supporter.

"The ridiculous thing is is we're a blue family - we support Manchester City," she said.

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