after a passenger was suddenly taken ill.

A doctor gave the pain-wracked woman first aid as the Lockheed Tri-Star plane diverted to the Island.

Waiting paramedics quickly whisked her to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The woman -- who had suffered a seizure -- stayed overnight in hospital, but was later released.

Yesterday Mrs. Karen Tyrrell, from Los Angeles, told The Royal Gazette of her agonising ordeal.

And she heaped praise on the "fantastic'' airline and hospital staff.

"They were absolutely marvellous. I couldn't have asked for better treatment,'' she said.

Saturday afternoon's drama occurred as the Madrid-Atlanta Delta Air Lines jet was about 20 minutes from Bermuda.

Mrs. Tyrrell, who had been holidaying with her husband, Kevin, in Barcelona suddenly began convulsing.

"I was in excruciating pain, and in a great deal of discomfort,'' she said.

"Quite by chance a doctor was on board and able to give me treatment on board.

"I hadn't been feeling 100 percent before the flight. I don't know what caused the seizure, it just suddenly hit me.'' Mrs. Tyrrell added: "I'm feeling a lot better now, although a little light-headed.

"I was treated exceptionally well by everybody in Bermuda. People were simply amazing, including the airline and hospital staff and everybody else I met.

"I would definitely like to come here for a holiday next time I visit.'' Mrs. Tyrrell, an educational programme director, flew to Atlanta with her husband yesterday afternoon.

She said her doctor in Los Angeles would be giving her a full medical.

Ms Jackie Zuill, spokeswoman for Delta Air Lines, said the diverted jet landed at the Civil Air Terminal at around 4 p.m.

It was refuelled before flying off and arriving in Atlanta one hour and 35 minutes late.

"Obviously we are very pleased that Mrs. Tyrrell was impressed by her treatment here,'' said Ms Zuill. "We always try to help. It's particularly pleasing Mrs. Tyrrell intends returning for a holiday.'' Delta yesterday vowed to continue its daily Boston-Bermuda winter flights. The pledge follows Northwest Airlines' decision to cut the same service for 10 weeks.

The carrier announced last week it would not operate the service from the middle of December until March. While the 10-week break is shorter than this year's stoppage, it will severely hit visitors from Boston.

Ms Zuill said her company viewed Boston as a traditional "stronghold.'' "We definitely don't have any plans to reduce the service. It's very valuable to us. We are very, very loyal to our passengers, and believe in an all-year round service.'' Ms Zuill pointed out Delta operated one daily flight from Boston, and another from Atlanta. She added the Boston service had been running since 1969.