Kenly Millan Aponte, 35, died April 29 at Svelta Plastic Surgery in South Florida after traveling from her home in Lexington for a Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck.
A Kentucky mother suffered a fatal heart attack while undergoing dramatic plastic surgery after staff failed to perform CPR or hold a 'slow' elevator to help rush her to hospital, investigators say.
Kenly Millan Aponte, 35, died April 29 at Svelta Plastic Surgery in South Florida after traveling from her home in Lexington for a Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck.
According to a newly released fire rescue report from the incident, paramedics were called to the patient suffering breathing problems and found 'no CPR was in progress' when they arrived.
Paramedics said the situation unfolded when a 'slow elevator' prevented them from racing to the scene, while 'no staff member was holding' it open for them to help get to Aponte quicker, the report said.
Staff also allegedly did not have a 'crash cart' set up next to Aponte as she went under the knife, which contains life-saving equipment and is mandated by Florida law to be accessible during surgeries.
The alleged errors in the moments before Aponte's death have left her family devastated, as her husband Jefferson Carrasco said the surgeries were meant to be a birthday present for his wife.
'Why her? A young woman, just 35 years old?', he told NBC Miami through tears.
Fire Rescue report detailsThe fire rescue report was published by the Coral Gables Fire Rescue Department after being obtained by Aponte's husband, and the report sheds new light on Aponte's death.
Paramedics alleged that staff at Svelta Plastic Surgery were confused when Aponte suffered a medical emergency, and said they were 'unable to provide an exact time' when she went into cardiac arrest.
Her family's attorney Jorge Silva told NBC Miami that he was stunned by the alleged lack of action, which he says was compounded by staff not being ready with the elevator when paramedics arrived.
'A young woman is hanging on to life, and that when fire rescue arrived, that there wasn't even an elevator available for them,' Silva said.
Silva said the lack of crash cart was shocking to him, accusing Svelta of breaking the law by not having the emergency tools prepared at the time.
'It is mandatory by the state of Florida for an ambulatory surgical center to have a crash cart readily available,' he explained.
'I have read probably 5,000 to 10,000 fire rescue reports in my career. And I've never seen one like this.'
Gretel Jardon, the CEO of Svelta, said in a statement following the report: 'Svelta understands the importance of fire rescue care.
Endrys Martinez (left)
'It is our understanding and firm belief that prior to fire rescue's arrival, detailed ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) protocol including the utilization of a crash cart measures were undertaken and they continued in an appropriate manner up until Fire Rescue jurisdiction over the patient care applied.
'Our team looks forward to when the facts are clarified by each of the witnesses who were present during the emergency.'
Just three weeks after Aponte's death, another patient at the clinic, Endrys Martinez, a 19-year-old from Tennessee, also allegedly died under the care of Svelta when he went in for rhinoplasty for his deviated septum.
Martinez's family said his surgery should have been a routine nose job, but he suffered complications with anesthesia and was transported to hospital during his procedure.
He fought for his life for several days before dying in hospital, which his mother Iblin said was the 'worst news' when 'they told us he wouldn't come back.'
His father Endrys added that his son was healthy with no known health problems, and said his sudden death 'destroyed outrlives.'
Investigation launchedAuthorities said they launched an investigation into Martinez's death, and Svelta said in a previous statement that it was 'fully cooperating' with police, and asked the public 'to refrain from making judgments until all facts have been properly reviewed and presented.'
Silva, who is also representing Martinez's family, told the Daily Mail last month that Svelta's surgeons who performed on Aponte and Martinez are still allowed to fully operate under their licenses while under investigation.
'It is unspeakable that there is such little oversight that the clinic can still operate after these cases,' Silva told the Daily Mail.
'The families want [Svelta] to cease to exist.'
Neither family has brought a lawsuit against Svelta, as Silva said they have to wait 90 days to file a medical malpractice suit under Florida law.
'It is forthcoming,' the lawyer told the Daily Mail. 'These are multimillion-dollar cases.'