Passenger's Last Plea: 'Don't Let Me Die'

Feb. 25. 2008—, 2008 -- American Airlines today disputed the account of a man who said his cousin died on a flight from Haiti to New York City last Friday after she was initially refused oxygen from a flight attendant.

When the crew finally tried to administer oxygen to Carine Desir, 44, the two tanks they produced were empty, according to the victim's cousin, Antonio Oliver, who was on the flight.

"Please don't let me die, I can't breathe, I can't breathe," Oliver says his cousin cried.

Oliver also claims that when the crew members tried to use what appeared to be a defibrillator, it malfunctioned.

American Airlines disputed Oliver's version of events, saying oxygen was adminstered and the defibrillator was operational.

"We stand behind the actions and training of our crew and the functionality of the onboard medical equipment," the airline said in a statement today.

Outside medical experts said it was unclear whether the airline had done anything wrong, or if attempts to save Desir could have succeeded.

Desir, 44, had heart disease and died of "natural causes," according to New York City Medical Examiners spokeswoman Ellen Borakove. The flight continued as scheduled to John F. Kennedy airport, after a doctor on the flight reportedly declared Desir dead.

Oliver said Desir was not feeling well and was thirsty on the flight from Port-au-Prince. A flight attendant gave her water, but when Desir said she was having trouble breathing and asked for oxygen, a flight attendant twice refused her request, according to Oliver. "I started yelling at the plane, 'Somebody help me!'" he said.

When a flight attendant did try to administer oxygen, the tank was empty, Oliver said. He said two a doctor who came to Desir's aid tried to administer oxygen from a second tank, which was also not working.

American Airlines said it was investigating the incident, but said when Desir first asked for oxygen, a flight attendant went to get the chief flight attendant. By the time they came back, it seemed Desir was having trouble breathing.

The airline said oxygen was administered to Desir, first by a flight attendant and then by a doctor, who worked for 45 minutes to save her. The airline said the onboard defibrillator was used on Desir.

Defibrillators won't administer a shock if they do not detect an irregular heartbeat, Dr. Brian Olshansky, a professor of medicine at the University of Iowa, told ABC News. He said it is possible to suffer from a major heart attack, stopping the heart, without setting off the defibrillator.

"If in fact she was given oxygen and proper attempts at treatment, some people still just don't survive from having cardiovascular collapse," he said.

Federal Aviation Administration rules requires that airlines have a defibrillator and at least two oxygen units on hand. It is up to the airlines to make sure they work properly.

The FAA's Federal Air Surgeon's office plans to discuss the incident with the American Airlines medical director and staff.