Horror as airhostess mother-of-three, 57, drops dead in front of passengers after 'feeling unwell' but ignoring medical help because she 'wanted to fly back to see her children'

A mother-of-three flight attendant dropped dead in front of horrified passengers as they boarded their flight.

Gabriella Cario, 57, was already feeling unwell as she waited at the boarding gate on Saturday afternoon.

However, she chose not to seek medical help because she wanted to return home to her husband and her three sons.

As she boarded the plane, her condition worsened and she died within minutes in front of shocked passengers and colleagues.

All passengers were disembarked as onsite paramedics rushed to the aircraft.

They tried to revive the 57-year-old, but their efforts were in vain.

The tragedy happened at Reggio Calabria Airport, south east of Naples, Italy.

ITA Airways flight 1156 bound for Rome Fiumicino was postponed to the evening after Cario's death.

Other flights were also delayed.

Cario worked as a flight attendant for ITA Airways but was returning to her home in Sabaudia, near Latina, as a passenger.

She was originally from Naples but worked out of Rome on domestic and international flights.

Her funeral will be held in Sabaudia on September 17. Her cause of death is still a mystery and has only been reported to date as a 'sudden illness.'

Sabaudia mayor Alberto Mosca said: 'I knew Gabriella. She was a bright, always-smiling, and kind woman.

'On behalf of the administration and the entire community, I extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband and her beloved three children.'