60-year-old Carrie Fisher, who is best known for playing Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” film franchise, suffered a “massive heart attack” on a London to Los Angeles flight.
Carrie, who had been on tour promoting her latest book, “The Princess Diarist“, went into cardiac arrest 15 minutes before the plane landed in Los Angeles. According to multiple news sources, passengers aboard the same flight were attempting to revive her with CPR. Asian American YouTuber Anna Akana, who happened to have been on the same flight, tweeted that the actress “stopped breathing”.
United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement about an “unresponsive” passenger on one of their flights. “Medical personnel met United flight 935 from London to Los Angeles upon arrival today after the crew reported that a passenger was unresponsive. Our thoughts are with our customer at this time and any requests for additional information should be directed to local authorities,” the statement read.
According to The Los Angeles Fire Department, paramedics “were standing by for the plane’s arrival, provided Advanced Life Support and aggressively treated and transported the patient to a local hospital”.
TMZ cited witnesses as saying that Carrie’s eyes were closed and she appeared unconscious as EMTs rushed her through the terminal. She had an oxygen mask on her face.
Since then, tweets/messages of concern have poured in from fans and longtime friends. Mark Hamill (otherwise known as Luke Skywalker), Carrie’s co-star in the “Star Wars” movies, tweeted that he is sending all his love to Carrie. Peter Mayhew (otherwise known as Chewbacca) also took to Twitter to send his thoughts and prayers.
as if 2016 couldn't get any worse… sending all our love to @carrieffisher
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) December 23, 2016
Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now.. @carrieffisher
— Peter Mayhew Foundation (@TheWookieeRoars) December 23, 2016
Please send love and positive thoughts to my friend, @carrieffisher
— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) December 24, 2016
Thoughts and love for @carrieffisher You can't leave us yet! May the force be with you.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) December 23, 2016
@carrieffisher Don't even think about it!! This planet needs you on it! Sending so much love xxx
— graham norton (@grahnort) December 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/darrenhayes/status/812422039776595968
Sending all my love and prayers to @carrieffisher. One of my favorite people on the planet.
— Chris Colfer (@chriscolfer) December 24, 2016
Meanwhile, Carrie’s brother, Todd, confirmed that she’s currently in a stable condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical in Los Angeles.
Here’s praying for a speedy recovery for our favourite “Star Wars” princess. Get well soon, Carrie Fisher. May the force be with you.
More updates to come soon.
UPDATE (28th December):
Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia Organa, has died. She was 60 years old.
“It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning,” her family spokesman Simon Halls said in a statement. Her mother, Debbie Reynolds also confirmed the news via a Facebook post:
Carrie was on a flight from London to Los Angeles when she had a heart attack. A medic onboard performed CPR on the actress until paramedics rushed her to a nearby hospital as soon as the plane landed. She was taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical in Los Angeles where she was placed on a ventilator.
She later died in the hospital.
We’re too sad for words. It almost feels like a really bad dream.
Rest in peace, Princess. The Force will be with you, always.
Sources: BBC, NBC, TMZ, AP, Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew, Anna Akana, PEOPLE.
