By @cparkerbparker

 

 

Yesterday I flew back from Sunny Greece to overcast London. 

 

On the plane back I decided to finish reading the final section of ‘Lateral Thinking’. 

 

Whilst Eddy was banging on about using ‘Po’ a manic air stewardess was sprinting down the aisle. 

 

‘Is there a Doctor onboard?’ The stewardess shouted.

 

Enter one sun kissed middle age man dress in a dodgy Hawaiian shirt. 

 

The sobering situation reminded me of a story that I had heard about a controversial writer Albert Goldman. 

 

Albert Goldman had written a number of questionable biographies on the likes of Lenny Bruce, Elvis and John Lennon. 

 

He wasn’t liked by anyone I can see, both publicly and privately. 

 

However his outspoken and outrageous theories had made him interesting reading.

 

It had also encouraged the BBC commission an interview with the 66 year old author.

 

When Albert agreed to the interview he insisted on being picked up from the states and escorted back to the UK.

 

On the plane Albert suffered a heart attack and died.

 

Unbeknown to the BBC representative who had collected Mr Goldman was that Albert was now technically in his custody.

 

The body was his responsibility. 

 

The slightly shaken BBC representative wasn’t too worried.

 

How hard could it be?

 

He contacted the family and looked to sort out this bizarre situation.

 

However the family wanted nothing to do with Albert or his corpse. 

 

So the poor BBC representative was stuck with a dead guy he did not even know.

 

Even in death Albert was still managing to annoy people.

 

All of this made me put my lateral thinking cap on.

 

What do you do at 30,000 ft in an medical emergency?

 

The probability that a doctor or nurse is onboard your flight is probably quite high.

 

But why not offer free or discounted flights to medical staff? 

 

In exchange those medical staff would be on call during the flight to assist with potential onboard emergencies.

 

BA airways – the safest way to fly