Lasse Lehtonen, the director of Finland's social insurance institution Kela, has revealed details about his health situation for the first time since a serious incident at Brussels airport in December. During a flight from Helsinki, Lehtonen was removed from the aircraft and was later diagnosed with increased intracranial pressure at a hospital in Brussels. His son, a medical professional, played a crucial role in his diagnosis by consulting emergency services in Brussels over the phone.

Lehtonen emphasized that had it not been for his son's timely intervention, he might not have survived the life-threatening condition caused by the elevated intracranial pressure. He stated that without the diagnosis and subsequent treatment, he could have faced respiratory failure within days, marking a critical moment in his health crisis. After receiving medical attention in Brussels, he was transported back to Finland via ambulance flight.

Currently, Lehtonen is on sick leave, with Kari-Pekka Mäki-Lohiluoma temporarily taking over his responsibilities as the head of Kela until the end of May. This incident underlines the importance of quick medical response and family support in critical health situations, raising awareness about health vigilance during travel.