IndiGlobal Bureau
It was a flight that , Dr Niranjan Chavan and engineer Sushant Shelke will not forget. “Is there any doctor on the flight? We have a medical emergency on board,” an airhostess repeated thrice, on Vistara flight No. UK957. Dr Niranjan, who was having his meal immediately raised to the call of duty and rushed towards the back of the aircraft and was shocked to see a young co-passenger, struggling to breath, eyes rolled up, and motionless, slumped on his seat, body cold, creating concerns in the flight. He was later identified as Sushant Shelke, 31, an engineer from Kolhapur, along with an assistant, returning after completing a professional assignment in New Delhi.
Sushant Shelke, 31, an engineer from Kolhapur, along with an assistant, returning after completing a professional assignment in New Delhi. Shelke had been fasting for religious reasons and had since December 17 lived only on tea-biscuits for three days, the doctor said.
The doctor asked the airline cabin crew to start oxygen, put some sugar powder on Mr Shelke’s tongue.
Dr Chavan massaged Mr Shelke’s hands to increase blood flow and body temperature. “I asked the crew to conduct a body check-up as there was a possibility of him having comorbidities,” he said.
After about 45 minutes, Mr Shelke’s blood pressure climbed up to near-normal and the colour seemed to return to his face, Dr Chavan said. Mr Shelke was also apparently feeling better, he said.
Around midnight, Mr Shelke was handed over to the medical team waiting at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport who whisked him away for observation.
“I asked Mr Shelke to get admitted to Sion hospital as he needed to be under observation, but he did not agree and left for Kolhapur after doctors provided him medical treatment at Mumbai airport,” Dr Chavan said.
“It was a nerve-wracking incident and the first such more than three decades of flying all over. Treating a patient in mid air in circumstances such as this was a big learning experience for me,” Dr Chavan said.