On Sunday morning, Kathy Voss boarded a plane at Bradley International Airport with daughters Elise and Sarah for a flight to Miami.
Their final destination was a pre-wedding cruise in honor of Elise, who is tying the knot in July.
They did not get far before the trip took an interesting turn.
American Airlines flight 2015 was taxiing en route to takeoff when a man on board began having what appeared to be a heart attack.
"Some passengers alerted the flight attendants," Kathy Voss said on Monday from her Miami hotel room before heading out on the cruise. "He was passed out, vomiting and had a gray color."
Kathy Voss said a call came out to anyone with a medical background. She and Elise are both physicians assistants and Elise and Sarah have both worked as lifeguards at Vernon Parks and Recreation facilities.
So they helped out and Kathy and Elise kept the man stable while the pilot maneuvered the plane back toward the terminal. An ambulance came for the man and Sarah helped emergency medical technicians get him off the plane.
Kathy Voss said the man, who appeared to be in his 50s, was on a business trip. She said she did not ask for his name.
She joked that they might need a little extra vacation enjoyment after putting themselves to work.
She said should would help out again if she encountered a similar situation. The airline offered the Vosses free food, snacks and drinks, but Kathy Voss said was "too early" for any adult beverages.
Kathy Voss has lived in Vernon for 30 years and Elise practices at Rockville Family Physicians in Vernon. Sarah is a Vernon resident. Kathy also serves on the state Board of Health's Northern District and is a Director of the Connecticut Physician Assistant Association.
The flight was delayed an hour.
"I usually call home when I get to a destination and this time I called an hour late and gave (husband) Tom the whole story," she said. She added it appeared the man would be OK.
