A 22-year-old man got on a Southwest flight in Dallas, expecting to land in Los Angeles. He never made it there in the way he expected \u2014 a medical emergency unfolded thousands of feet in the air. Months later, the medical examiner has confirmed what caused Rain McMillen Walmsley’s death, and his mother has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her son.<\/p>\n
On August 7, Rain McMillen Walmsley was flying from Dallas to Los Angeles when he suffered a medical emergency mid-flight and became unresponsive, local outlet NBC4 reported. CPR was given on board, and paramedics were waiting to help when the plane arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has since finished its investigation and determined that his death was accidental, caused by the combined effects of two chemical compounds.<\/p>\n
The two compounds are 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine, both found in kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a tree native to Southeast Asia. According to PEOPLE, officials have confirmed that he died of the “combined effects” of the two. Kratom leaves are usually dried and taken for their stimulant or sedative effects, and kratom is not federally regulated as a controlled substance, so it can be legally bought over the counter or online. The American College of Medical Toxicology says animal studies have found that 7-OH and other kratom compounds act similarly to opioids, causing intoxication, breathing problems, dependence and withdrawal.<\/p>\n
After his death, Rain’s mother, Heather McMillen, told the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber: “He was a little spark plug, and he was beautiful and really smart and also really kind.” “He was just coming into himself.” A few things should be said plainly: the article never says he took a drug on the flight, never says when or how much of any substance he took, and never calls kratom or 7-OH “new” \u2014 it only reports that the medical examiner found his death resulted from the combined effects of the two compounds. The cause is reported through PEOPLE’s account of what officials confirmed, with no direct statement from the medical examiner quoted, and the article gives no year for the August 7 flight and no flight number.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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