A former Brock University nursing student is among six people presumed dead after a medical evacuation plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean while travelling from Bermuda to Boston on Oct. 3.
Sarah Paton, a Niagara-based registered nurse, was serving as the flight nurse aboard an aircraft operated by Hamilton-based Latitude Air Ambulance. Paton was identified among three other Canadians on crew, alongside two Bermudian passengers.
The company released a statement following the event, writing, “our four crew members were valued members of the Latitude family. They dedicated themselves to providing care to people at some of the most difficult moments in their lives, and they were carrying out that mission when this tragedy occurred. We are grieving their loss deeply.”
The aircraft, known as Heartbeat 104, was operating out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport when it crashed, and was set to complete a routine MedEvac trip. Heartbeat 104 disappeared off the coast of Massachusetts near Nantucket Island.
After a 66-hour search covering thousands of square miles, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended rescue efforts, with all six people aboard presumed dead.
According to CHCH, the Coast Guard reported debris from the plane were discovered over 30 kilometers away from Nantucket.
Brock nursing staff and students took to Instagram to share their feelings on the matter, stating, “The Brock School of Nursing is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our alumni.”
Before joining Latitude Air Ambulance, Paton worked as an intensive care unit nurse at Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines, having joined the hospital in 2021. She began her healthcare career as a personal support worker at Niagara Gardens Retirement Home.
Former colleagues and personal friends of Paton reflected on the loss, remembering her compassion, dedication and ability to brighten a room.
“Sarah’s colleagues describe her as a dedicated, skilled and enthusiastic nurse. She lost her life while caring for others — the ultimate sacrifice to her dedication to patients and the profession,” stated RNAO President Sue LeBeau.
Kathleen Paton, a friend and former co-worker, described her as bubbly and hard-working, saying she cared deeply about her patients, family and friends.
“She was a great nurse. It’s sad that it happened,” Kathleen told CHCH News.
Sheila Given, general manager of Niagara Gardens, also remembered Paton as someone who went out of her way to support her colleagues, including bringing coffee and donuts to work during snowstorms and volunteering for extra shifts.
“You know, when she walked in the room, she lit up the room,” Given told CHCH News.
“Sarah’s loss will be felt by many, including family, friends, coworkers, and members of the nursing and health care communities,” wrote the Brock nursing department on Instagram.
While it is unclear what the cause of the crashed aircraft was, air traffic control recordings suggest to investigators that the plane may have had an obstructed view due to an oncoming storm as the jet came into the coast. The pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency before losing contact.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash with assistance from U.S. authorities. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft and flight data to determine what happened before it went down.