29-year-old Tyneside woman Joanna Kowalczyk discharged herself from hospital and went to a chiropractor who did not see her medical records for an alternative treatment.

During her fourth session with the chiropractor in October 2021 she felt dizzy, developed double vision, had a tingling in her right hand and foot, and struggled with speech.

After several hours she was eventually able to go home but was soon afterwards taken to hospital where she later died.

Writing in a prevention of future death’s report, the coroner said: “Joanna Kowalczyk died due to a combination of the consequences of chiropractic treatment following a naturally occurring medical event, on a background of an undiagnosed medical condition.”

Assistant coroner for Gateshead and South Tyneside Leila Benyounes found that it was likely Kowalczyk had undiagnosed connective tissue disorder which made her vulnerable to arterial dissections.

The 29-year-old’s medical history included migraines and joint hypermobility, but this was information the chiropractor did not see.

When Kowalczyk was exercising at the gym on 26 September, 2021, she felt a crack in her neck which the report says was likely to be bilateral arterial dissections.

This is a tear in the layers of the carotid artery located in the neck, and can lead to life-threatening conditions such as a stroke or a bleed on the brain.

The day after her injury the 29-year-old visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead and had a CT scan, but left before a lumbar puncture could be carried out having researched alternative treatments while she was in hospital.

She discharged herself from hospital and sought treatment at a chiropractor’s. (Google Maps)

The coroner’s report said that on the fourth session Kowalczyk ‘sustained acute dissections in the same location as the previous dissections during the chiropractic manipulation’.

Her chiropractor was concerned that she had suffered a stroke but tested negative, and although two people advised her to go to hospital she decided against it.

After several hours at the chiropractor’s, her partner helped her return home since she couldn’t walk properly, and the chiropractor gave her a note telling her to go to hospital if she felt any worse.

Am ambulance was called and the 29-year-old was checked for signs of a stroke, while she was diagnosed with a migraine.

The next day she fell ‘gravely ill’ and paramedics rushed her to hospital where she died on 19 October, 2021.

A General Chiropractic Council spokesman said: “We expect chiropractors to provide good quality care that is patient-centred, safe and effective, and that is consistent with the current standards for good healthcare practice.

“We will be carefully considering the important concerns raised by the coroner in her report and will respond directly to her.”

There are thought to be no survivors from the terrible crash, with the aircraft appearing to explode in mid-air when they collided.

In the footage the marker moving upwards is the American Airlines passenger plane with 64 people on board, and the marker moving down the screen is the US army helicopter that had three people on board.

You can see them moving closer and closer together until they collided and disaster strikes.

A few minutes before the plane was due to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC air traffic control staff asked if it could make the landing on a shorter runway and the pilots agreed.

The jet was given clearance to land, while controllers asked the helicopter if it could see the passenger plane and said ‘PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ’, an instruction for the helicopter to wait for the plane to pass by before continuing.

They received no reply and seconds later the two aircraft collided into each other in a devastating crash.

Wreckage of the aircraft was found in the Potomac River, with the plane found upside down and in three pieces by the recovery operation.

Officials said today (30 January) that they did not expect to find any of the 67 people involved with the crash alive, and that they were ‘switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation’.

At least 28 bodies have been found, 27 from the plane and one from the helicopter.

What started as potential rescue efforts has become recovery of the bodies. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

What caused the American Airlines crash?

This is still to be determined, with the black boxes from both the helicopter and plane vital to establishing what was going on in the build up to the fatal collision.

All we know at this stage is that the passenger plane and military helicopter collided as the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to land.

Who was on board the American Airlines flight?

US Figure Skating, which is the American governing body for the sport, has announced that a number of athletes and coaches were on board the fateful flight.

In a statement, it said: “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

World champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the plane, according to Russian state media.

Figure skater Spencer Lane was among those who died, with his father Douglas calling him a ‘force of nature’ who was ‘loved by everyone’ in an interview with WPRI.

What has American Airlines said about the crash?

In a statement, the businessman said: “This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones.

“I know that there are many questions. At this early stage, I’ll not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time.”

Donald Trump’s response

President Trump described the incident as a ‘bad situation’ that ‘should have been prevented’.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social. “The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn.

“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!! What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

Trump called the crash an ‘hour of anguish’ for the US before going on a baseless tirade against diversity hiring efforts from his predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama, claiming that the Federal Aviation Administration was ‘actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative’.

Dispatcher audio of aftermath of American Airlines crash released

Air traffic control audio has since been released from the incident, detailing the harrowing moment dispatchers witness the crash.

“The accident happened in the river. Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river,” a man on the audio says.

“It was probably out in the middle of the river. Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river.

“But it was a CR-J [the type of plane] and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach.”

Well, still do dream about, let’s be honest; I know I wish I could teleport to the office rather than do the commute.

But obviously, it’s all the stuff of superheroes in films and sci-fi inventions.

Except there are five people in the world with ‘real-life superpowers’, and their names aren’t Thor or Batman. And even scientists can’t explain the abilities of this lot, with one woman claiming she can see right inside of your body.

Daniel Browning Smith

This 45-year-old American contortionist has been described as ‘the most flexible person in history’ and is also known as ‘The Rubberboy’.

His incredible flexibility means he’s got seven Guinness World Records under his belt, including the fastest time to enter a locked straitjacket, and he’s performed stunts such as passing his whole body through an unstrung tennis racket.

OK, so for this one, scientists do know why Daniel has been able to do what he does, as he has a condition called hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.

It gives him loose joints and stretchy skin that helps him with his incredible feats, though it did mean he had to quit performing as the condition can cause pain and means his limbs can easily dislocate.

Natasha Demkina

Does she have x-ray eyes or is she a really lucky guesser? (Facebook/Natasha Demkina – the girl with X-RAY EYES)

This 38-year-old Russian woman claims she can see inside people’s bodies, essentially having Superman’s x-ray vision.

Experts are naturally sceptical of someone claiming they’ve got x-ray vision, but in tests, she has correctly identified medical conditions in strangers.

Appearing on British TV show This Morning in 2004, she identified host Fern Britton had a sore ankle, and a year later, when under scrutiny by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), she got four out of seven people’s medical diagnoses correct.

However, not all of her predictions are correct, so maybe she’s just a really good guesser.

Ngoc Thai

He claims he hasn’t slept for decades, which may be more of a curse than a power. (YouTube/Cuộc Sống Miền Trung)

If you thought insomnia was bad, imagine not sleeping for decades – at least, that’s what this elderly Vietnamese farmer claims.

His family, friends, and neighbours have claimed they’ve never seen him sleep, and the man himself claimed he hasn’t really slept since 1962, instead getting his energy from ‘green tea and rice wine’.

In a meeting with YouTuber Drew Binksy, the man said he did want to sleep but couldn’t, so this ‘superpower’ really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Yes, you could get so much more done, but a good night’s sleep can’t be underestimated.

For basically everyone else, going even a couple of days without sleep would be placing us in serious medical danger, so don’t try and see whether you have this supposed superpower.

Stephen Wiltshire

Stephen Wiltshire has an incredible memory (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

The man with possibly the greatest memory in the world, Stephen is able to look at a landscape just once before being able to perfectly recreate it in his art.

An incredibly talented artist, the 50-year-old has been able to recreate the skylines and buildings of major cities around the world after just one look.

Top Gear fans might remember Stephen as the man who helped out Clarkson, Hammond, and May with their art exhibition by drawing a car in front of New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge, with him creating the scenery entirely from memory.

Wim Hof

Wim Hof is next level. (Tristar Media/Getty Images)

The Iceman set Guinness World Records for the farthest swim beneath ice and the longest time in full body contact with ice.

The 65-year-old claims cold exposure and breathing exercises are the secret to his incredible feats and can improve your health, but scientists are divided on how true this is.

While remarkable, Hof’s records have since been broken by others who have displayed similar capacity to withstand dreadfully cold temperatures.

However, this one comes with a massive ‘don’t try this at home’ warning, as there have been people who have died attempting to demonstrate they can take the cold temperatures.

The Bombardier CRJ700, which was operating as American Airlines 5432, collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC on Wednesday (29 January) night.

The incident occurred at around 9pm local time as the passenger plane was approaching the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

The jet – which had departed from Wichita, Kansas – then smashed into the Potomac River, with NBC 4 Washington reporting that the aircraft ‘split in half’ and is ‘seven feet underwater’.

It collided with a Sikorsky H-60 which was carrying three US soldiers, the Pentagon said. Rescue efforts remain underway, with emergency responders trawling the water for survivors.

According to the BBC, 18 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River so far.

Hamaad Raza explained that he realised ‘something was up’ when his replies to his partner, who was one of the 64 people onboard the plane, didn’t ‘get delivered’.

He has said he is ‘praying’ that his wife has survived the tragedy in an emotional interview. Speaking to news outlet WUSA, he revealed that he had been conversing with his spouse in the moments before the crash.

“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now,” Raza said. “That’s all I can pray for.

Hamaad Raza said he realised ‘something was up’ when his text messages to his wife weren’t going through (WUSA9)

“She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes. The rest of my texts did not get delivered. That’s when I realised something might be up.”

According to US officials, the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the incident was on a ‘training flight’.

A military spokesperson told Fox News (via The New York Post): “We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight.

“We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”

President Donald Trump said he had been ‘fully briefed’ on the incident in a statement shared on Wednesday (29 January) night.

“May God Bless their souls,” he said. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, has also expressed his ‘deep sorrow’ in a video posted to the company’s website.

In a statement, the airline said: “Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.

“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers.

“Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”

The awful incident happened at 9.00pm local time on Wednesday (29 January) as the American Airlines passenger jet was descending to land on Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

All take offs and landings at the airport have been temporarily suspended while the incident over the Potomac River is investigated and emergency services continue to search for survivors.

Here’s everything we know so far about the devastating crash.

This is still to be determined, with the black boxes from both the helicopter and plane vital to establishing what was going on in the build up to the fatal collision.

All we know at this stage is that the passenger plane and military helicopter collided as the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to land.

How many people were on board the American Airlines flight?

It has been confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew were on American Airlines flight 5342.

US Figure Skating, which is the American governing body for the sport, has announced that a number of athletes and coaches were on board the fateful flight.

In a statement, it said: “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

According to CBS, at least 19 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River at the time of publishing this article.

No survivors have also been located at this stage as the investigation and recovery mission continues.

Meanwhile, three people were on board the helicopter.

What has American Airlines said about the crash?

The CEO of American Airlines, Robert Isom, issued a response to the incident in Washington DC as he explained he was travelling to DC with a specialist team to aid the investigation.

In a statement, the businessman said: “This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones.

“I know that there are many questions. At this early stage, I’ll not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time.”

The crash site (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

What has Donald Trump said about the American Airlines crash?

President Trump described the incident as a ‘bad situation’ that ‘should have been prevented’.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social.

“The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn.

“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!! What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

Dispatcher audio of aftermath of American Airlines crash released

Air traffic control audio has since been released from the incident, detailing the harrowing moment dispatchers witness the crash.

“The accident happened in the river. Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river,” a man on the audio says.

“It was probably out in the middle of the river. Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river.

“But it was a CR-J [the type of plane] and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach.”

What’s the latest on the rescue operation?

During a press conference, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said his team ‘don’t know’ if they’ll find anybody alive.

He went on to explain that weather conditions were making the rescue operation tougher.

“There is wind. There are pieces of ice in the water… And because there is not a lot of light, you are out there searching every square inch of space,” he said.