The brother of Stefanie Smith, a lady who passed away unexpectedly after becoming unwell on an American Airlines trip from the Dominican Republic last week, has revealed that the family is still looking for answers about the circumstances surrounding her passing. Stefanie Smith was 41 years old.
From the Dominican Republic to Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 28, Smith felt ill “mid-flight,” according to a press statement issued by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. Smith was flying from the Dominican Republic to Charlotte. A subsequent emergency landing was performed by the aircraft at the Providenciales International Airport, which is located in Turks and Caicos. Unfortunately, Smith did not survive his arrival to the hospital and passed away there.
According to Chris Volz, Smith’s brother, who spoke with NBC News, the family is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that they do not know what caused her loss.
The ambiguity, the fact that we do not know how she passed away, and the fact that we do not know when her corpse will be given to us have been the most difficult things that have occurred in recent times, according to Volz. After a week, we have moved over the first shock that we experienced. Now, however, it is the unpredictability.”
Additionally, he disclosed that a “celebration of life” for Smith has been scheduled; however, her corpse has not yet been discharged from the Turks and Caicos Hospital. It was verified that the family has not received any communication from American Airlines, but they are “hoping to find out soon.” He said that the family is uncertain about when they would get her corpse.
Volz also discussed his sister’s healthy lifestyle, stating that she “coached cheerleading and softball, when her kids were younger.” Volz’s sister coaches softball and cheerleading. There were two children that Smith was a mother to: a boy who was 18 years old and a daughter who was 16 years old.
Volz said that she was a highly active person. “Right before she left, she took a picture with everyone, and there was no indication that she was sick,” the photographer said.
Moreover, he had previously said to ABC News, “She was a distinctive individual…Volz said that her children “really…love her a lot, and I know that she loved them just as much.” “And so it’s tough.”
Smith’s friend Maria Yannotti, who accompanied her on the holiday, also gave an interview to ABC News. Volz was also present throughout the interview. At the time of the flight, Yannotti reported that Smith looked to be in good health.
Even when we were in the Dominican Republic, she could not get enough of going to the gym on a daily basis. Yannotti said that she made it a point to wake up early every morning in order to go to the gym and participate in a run on the beach.
According to Yannotti, Smith’s eyes began to roll back, and she felt herself beginning to convulse in her seat.
Prior to Smith’s passing, the Air Traffic Control sought medical help for her while she was “receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation” at around 6:15 p.m. local time, according to a statement released by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force on their Facebook page.
“A medical team, along with police units, were dispatched, and the patient was transported to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where she ultimately passed away,” they said. “A post-mortem examination will be carried out in order to determine the source of loss.”
