Fiji Sevens rugby team’s ultimate show of selflessness
ONE of the world’s top Rugby Sevens sides, Fiji, is renowned for its blinding pace, dazzling attack and ferocious defence.
Its players command respect through their unique playing style and dominance.
Off the field, their humility is to be marvelled.
On Thursday, the players were on board Virgin Australia’s flight from Nadi to Brisbane when there was a mid-flight emergency.
According to passenger Ryan Fee, an older traveller was suffering from a serious health scare for the majority of the trip as the plane flew back to Australia.
Pilots informed passengers of the situation as Virgin staff rushed to tend to the woman.
Almost immediately, the Fijian team doctor and coach went to the distressed woman to offer their assistance.
Two other passengers with medical training helped the woman, who was falling in and out of consciousness, according to Fee.
While the women’s condition was monitored, the rest of the Fijian playing group did something quite remarkable.
Clearly flustered at the prospect of a serious medical emergency, air hostesses were said to be struggling up with the demands of the untimely lunch service that had started just prior to the woman falling ill.
In an attempt to take the pressure off, Fee said the players offered to serve food to the rest of the plane.
“When the air hostesses were all flustered the team got up to finish serving food and then assisted with the clean up of trays for the entire plane,” Fee told news.com.au.
“Would you like tea?”
The team carried out the remainder of the lunch service, even collecting the trays and rubbish after everyone on the plane had eaten.
One player even assisted with the treatment of the elderly woman, holding her oxygen mask over her face for over an hour.
Fee described the incident as a “fantastic bit of team work”.
The Fijian side was en route to Dubai where they kick off their HSBC World Series on December 4.
Having finished the 2014/15 season ranked No. 1 in the world, they will be looking to defend their title as they head towards their debut in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-...0aa74967e8966d
