Heart-attack passenger 'charged for a sandwich' by Ryanair

A Ryanair passenger suffering a heart attack in his seat was offered a sandwich and soft drink by cabin crew - who then made him pay.

The family of Per-Erik Jonsson, 63, have demanded an apology from the budget airline. Mr Jonsson became ill on a flight from the UK to Sweden on Sunday but his stepdaughter, Bille Appleton, said staff were "hopelessly ill-equipped" to treat him.

"They said he had low blood pressure and gave him a ham sandwich and a soda. And they made sure he paid for it," she told a Stockholm newspaper. She said that he began feeling ill an hour into the flight and asked his wife for water. He lost consciousness and his wife alerted Mrs Appleton, a nurse.

"He didn't respond when I tried to shake him. But after I slapped him in the chest, he began breathing again," she said, adding that staff "reacted only when I shouted for a doctor and that he needed oxygen."

Ryanair defended its cabin crew, telling a Swedish website that it "suggested a diversion to the nearest airport or to have an ambulance on stand-by on arrival at Skavsta, so that the passenger could receive medical treatment. However, the passenger's companion, who identified herself as a nurse, declined this offer."

The family deny that version of events, saying they were surprised no ambulance was waiting. They drove in the family car to a local hospital where Mr Jonsson received emergency treatment. They are considering legal action.