'YOU MUST GET THIS PLANE DOWN.. ASAP' EXCLUSIVE How Branson's daughter Holly saved heart victim.

Byline: BY STEPHEN MOYES

SIR Richard Branson's daughter Holly ordered one of her dad's jumbo crews to make an emergency landing to save a seriously-ill passenger's life.

Holly, 26, a doctor, checked Paul Norbury's pulse and blood pressure as he slipped in and out of consciousness at 35,000ft - then said: 'We must get down asap."

The Gatwick to Antigua flight immediately diverted to Shannon Airport in Co Clare and Mr Norbury was taken to hospital by ambulance. His condition was stabilised thanks to Holly's prompt action.

One onlooker said: "Holly was the ultimate professional and remained calm and assured.

"She told everyone afterwards that she was only doing what any trained doctor would have done.

"She was very shy and modest afterwards and didn't want any fuss." Former Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan was on the flight. He was so impressed with Holly he rang his friend Sir Richard to tell him of her heroics.

He said: "You should be very proud of your daughter. She's a lifesaver." A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said Sir Richard was extremely proud.

He added: "It was her decision to divert the flight. Richard Branson is today a very, very proud father and full of admiration for his daughter." Mr Norbury, 47, was travelling with his wife and young daughter when he began suffering heart seizures an hour into Saturday's flight.

Worried cabin crew used the plane's speaker system to ask if there was a doctor on board.

They were stunned when their boss's daughter came rushing from her first class seat to ask: "Can I help?" She immediately took charge, loosening Mr Norbury's clothes and giving him oxygen before checking his vital signs.

After speaking with medical experts by phone she decided Mr Norbury needed urgent hospital treatment. As Holly and the cabin crew comforted Mr Norbury's distraught family, the 747 with 430 passengers on board was diverted to Shannon.

An ambulance crew took Mr Norbury to nearby Ennis General Hospital where it was confirmed he had suffered a heart attack.

Doctors later said there was history of heart trouble in his family and he would probably not have survived without specialist treatment. He was discharged from hospital yesterday.

Holly was flying to spend Christmas with friends on Necker, Sir Richard's private island.

She qualified as a doctor last year and worked with the elderly and in neurology at London's Chelsea and Westminster hospital. She recently took time out from her NHS career to work for Virgin Healthcare.

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Holly said she was only doing what any doctor would have done

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PROUD Sir Richard with doctor Holly; DRAMA Virgin jet