When Tracy Santana heard the news about the fatal Hawaii Air Ambulance crash, her first thoughts were of the take-charge paramedic who had helped a fellow passenger on a Hawaiian Airlines flight just two days earlier.

Santana, a Hawaiian Air flight attendant, was working the overnight flight from Las Vegas to Honolulu on March 6. An elderly passenger complained of chest pains, and, following procedure, Santana asked if there were any medical personnel onboard.

Most of the passengers were asleep in the darkened cabin, but Marlena Yomes came forward to help.

"The few times I've been around paramedics, they're wonderful, but they just shoot off the questions," Santana said. "But she talked to this man like he was her grandpa."

Yomes assessed the 83-year-old man and continued to check on him throughout the flight. She did her best to persuade him to go to a hospital in Honolulu rather than wait until he took a second flight home to Hilo. When the plane landed in Honolulu, Yomes stayed with the man until the airport paramedics took over.

"She knew the airport medic so they were talking," Santana said. "She was so well-known in that field and you could tell she was highly respected."

Two days later, Yomes was gone, lost in a horrible crash while on her way to save another life.

Santana was so affected by the chain of events that she felt moved to post her experience on an online chat board for flight attendants.

"I am fortunate to have not witnessed very many medical situations in my time here at Hawaiian Airlines so this made a lasting impression on me," she wrote. "I saw a stranger come forward for no other reason but to help and (do) an absolutely wonderful job as if he was her own family member."

Santana described the shock of hearing about the Air Ambulance crash: "... my worst fears were confirmed. It was her aboard. The awesome paramedic that went above and beyond for us on our flight just two days prior had been killed."

Santana's story of Marlena Yomes has been spread wide across the Internet. A copy was sent to Yomes' family, who gave permission to share the story in the newspaper.

Still, Tracy Santana isn't sure why she felt compelled to post the story. She's just glad she could bear witness to who Marlena Yomes was even when she wasn't on duty.

Santana wrote to Yomes' husband: "Your wife made a lasting impression on me in the short time I spent with her. Her concern, compassion and care were so impressive to me that I am unable to put it properly to words. I am forever honored to have witnessed her 'at work' and I truly hope you can somehow find peace in knowing that she made such a great difference in my life. I can honestly say that I was in the presence of a true hero."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.