Tragedy struck on board United 997 while in the middle of the Atlantic when a young man of almost 27 died in what is suspected to be a case of pulmonary embolism.
What’s worse, Daniel Junior dies as his father Daniel Toffey Sr. looked on helplessly – in flight.
“He kept saying ‘Daddy I can’t breath, Daddy I can’t breath,’” the senior Toffey narrated to DNT in an interview moments ago.
After having sat for a while, the victim was said to have attempted to stand up to go and use the restroom when his movement became shaky and was soon gasping for air.
One young lady shouted “we need a doctor, we need a doctor.” At that moment, what appeared to be a sixth sense got the senior father to jump from his business class area and rushed to the scene although the flight crew instructed everyone to remain in their seats.
Unfortunately, with as many as seven doctors on board, and with tools with which those doctors were “impressed” for United Airlines to have on board, Daniel Toffey Junior still suffocated too death in flight.
The flight took off from the Kotoka International Airport around 11pm on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Washington Dulles early on Monday.
Bur as a result of the tragic incident, the flight was diverted to Bermuda where all 178 passengers were lodging at Grotto Bay Resort pending their continued travel to Washington.
Jesse Lasuer, a neighbor at business class told DNT how the deceased father was holding up in spite of the monumental loss. “Although he is holding up just fine, you can just see the pain in his eyes,” Lasuer recalled.
Daniel Toffey had come to Ghana with his wife and Gospel Artist son to attend the funeral of an in-law. The wife stayed behind while father and son took the lead home to Pataskala, Ohio – a suburb of Columbus.
The Junior Toffey was scheduled to launch his album on June 4 with Joe Mettle scheduled to attend in Columbus. But now, the mother, at the time of posting this story, was in flight heading home to prepare for the arrival of her husband and the body of their son.
The Toffeys hail from the Jomoro area of Ghana.
DNT News, with correspondence report from Grotto Bay Resort, Bermuda.