Wichita Man Left Stranded at Orlando Airport

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Posted: 9:58 PM Aug 17, 2007
Last Updated: 9:58 PM Aug 17, 2007
Email Address: news@kake.com

13 comments

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A 72 year-old Wichita minister who traveled to Orlando earlier this week was left on a bench inside that city's airport for three days. Nobody realized that Kenneth Davis, the pastor at Wichita's Immanuel Outreach Center had suffered a stroke.

Davis got off his plane and asked for a wheelchair because he wasn't feeling well. A skyhop took him to a bench at the front of the terminal, where Davis got out of the wheelchair and sat down.

That's when he had the stroke. He sat there, and sat there... and sat there. Everybody just kept walking by, not even noticing that Davis was incapacitated.

After his children back in Wichita didn't hear from him, they filed a missing persons report with Orlando Police.

Then, finally... someone noticed. Davis was still sitting on the curb-side bench at the Orlando terminal. His pants were soiled. He was severely dehydrated.

Davis is now in an Orlando hospital where officials say he should recover.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: caroline Location: riverdale on Aug 29, 2007 at 09:16 AM
My prayers are with the Davis family. Airport secuirty was not on their job but thank goodness God was.

Posted by: kathy Location: minnesota on Aug 26, 2007 at 11:06 PM
Give the by standers a break. We are taught to ignor old men sitting on a bench. He could of been drunk, he could have been homeless....not our problem. My heart goes out to him and his family. I cant image what he was thinking and feeling, as he was watching people walk by in his time of need. You would think that security would notice the same person on a bench for so long a time, but, maybe that's common in flordia. Maybe this can be a lesson to us to not be afarid to speak up if something doesn't look right....But then, we would have to go out of our way.

Posted by: Michelle Location: Augusta, Ks on Aug 19, 2007 at 09:35 PM
I wonder if anyone has questioned homeland security? It's kind of scary a person can not move for 3 days and not be noticed. What else hasn't been noticed?

Posted by: Bonnie Location: Wichita on Aug 19, 2007 at 03:16 PM
An airport?? Come on now, you cannot travel with nail clippers but you can sit on a bench unattended for 3 days??? What a crock.. Didnt any eye brows raise when his luggage went unclaimed? This family needs a good laywer.

Posted by: Dawn Location: Calgary Alberta on Aug 19, 2007 at 12:32 PM
People do not understand the symptoms of a stroke. My dad was left in his truck to sleep it off after he had a stroke and an accident. They thought he was drunk. He does not even drink. He was lifted into his sleeper by the tow truck driver, his truck was towed to the company yard and he was put back in his sleeper because he had fallen out during the tow. His dispatcher told the tow truck driver to leave him to sleep it off and put the keys out of his reach in case he woke up and tried to drive. This was told to him after the tow truck driver told the dispatcher that he did not think he was drunk. The public needs to be more informed about the symtoms mimicking drunken behavior. This is not just a USA problem but also canadian. This happened in Canada.

Posted by: Ken Location: Tamp on Aug 19, 2007 at 06:40 AM
I flew into TPA yesterday and had to sit at a bench curbside waiting for my ride. There were at least 16 security officers patrolling the curb and arrivals level street to enforce the no stopping. This is typical at most airports these days. There is a large security force right there curb side; if someone would have a problem such as a stroke, I'd hope sure enough security - of all people - would be observant. If he indeed was sitting curbside on the arrivals area, the security folks failed badly at MCO; too busy threatening motorists with tickets, most likely.

Posted by: Not James Location: Not Winfield on Aug 18, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Hey nutjob, this story has nothing to do with health care. The dude could have gotten health care if any legal Americans walking around the airport had noticed him.

Posted by: J. Location: Lincoln NE on Aug 18, 2007 at 08:58 PM
This is America and we prefer to ignore people who might be sick. The more people that die without health care, the more money we save.

Posted by: Z Location: michigan on Aug 18, 2007 at 08:49 PM
how about the fact that this was at an airport i would think that would be a place someone would notice a person that hasn't moved in three days

Posted by: jeri Location: wichita on Aug 18, 2007 at 11:20 AM
it is sad when no one noticed this man ws still there for 3 days how sad it is when u see some one there and they are a mess and no one asked if he was alright.no one cares eny more not even the one who took him in a wheel chair asked if he was going to be alright and did not come back to check on him is this how we are turning out to be,not carring.

Posted by: linda Location: wichita on Aug 18, 2007 at 10:33 AM
This whole world needs to slow down, stop, and take a look around, and give their neighbor a helping hand.

Posted by: bebe Location: oregon on Aug 18, 2007 at 12:30 AM
This is the most shocking tragic story. I am so just ... speechless that human life can be disregarded this way. My heart goes out to him and his family.

Posted by: James Location: winfield on Aug 17, 2007 at 10:41 PM
An illegal alien can get health care but not an elderly US citizen ; what a crock of night soil from a large ox

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