Hyderabad doctor saves 74-year-old passenger mid-air on Indigo flight

Hyderabad: The Timely intervention and quick thinking of a doctor from Hyderabad performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) mid-air on a 74-year-old passenger saved the life of this man after he suffered a cardiac emergency on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Hyderabad on Sunday. 

The elderly man, who was travelling alone, suddenly became unresponsive during the flight. He began showing signs of fluid drooling from his mouth, drowsiness, loss of bladder control, and no response to commands. It was a medical emergency at 39,000 feet.

Dr. Preethi Reddy, a general physician from Hyderabad and Managing Director of Mallareddy Vishwa Vidhyapeet, immediately stepped in to help. Upon checking, she found that the passenger had a very weak pulse and low blood pressure. Without delay, she performed CPR.

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"After assessing his condition and identifying a likely cardiac complication, I found the pulse to be feeble and immediately began administering CPR. The passenger responded within a few minutes. The cabin crew and fellow passengers were very supportive throughout the situation."

Once he regained consciousness, he told the doctor that he had a history of hypertension and had undergone a heart procedure in the past. Dr Preethi used the flight’s medical kit to give him the required medication.

“I administered the necessary medications from the onboard medical kit. The air hostess was standing next to him all through the journey,” Dr Reddy said.

While the cabin crew was monitoring the man, the team also planned and called the command control room at Hyderabad Airport to be ready with wheel wheelchair, ambulance emergency doctor. After the flight landed, the emergency doctor went inside the flight and rushed him to a hospital. All co-passengers supported and coordinated with the flight crew.

Telangana Today has reported that the cabin crew and fellow passengers appreciated Dr. Preethi Reddy’s timely and life-saving actions. IndiGo Airlines has also acknowledged her heroic efforts, which helped avert a potential tragedy in the sky.

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