Life Flight called to Cheney for medical emergency, fall at Safeway store

A medical emergency last Wednesday at Cheney’s Safeway precipitated something generally not seen in the community — a Life Flight helicopter landing in the parking lot.

According to a Cheney police report, emergency responders were called to Safeway at 4:07 p.m. for a fall, and observed a woman lying on the floor unconscious near one of the front registers. A witness, who was in line behind the woman, identified as Nola F. Hensley, told police she was having problems initially with the credit card machine.

Hensley managed to check out, but immediately upon leaving the register area fell backwards and hit her head hard on the floor. Within a minute, Safeway pharmacist Rychelle McDaniel began administering CPR to Hensley, and was relieved shortly by a Spokane County Fire District 3 firefighter who arrived on scene.

Cheney Fire Department medical responders were quickly on hand to relieve the District 3 firefighter, and Life Flight was called. According to the report filed by Officer Zeb Campbell, “During the medical treatment, it was determined that the victim’s medical episode was un-survivable, and she was subsequently pronounced deceased.”

Hensley was 89 years old, and a resident of Cheney.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].