Kerala: Injured Patient dies as ambulance door gets jammed, probe ordered

Kozhikode: In an unfortunate incident, a 66-year-old patient who suffered injuries in a bike accident died inside the ambulance in which he was carried to the Kozhikode Medical College after the door of the vehicle failed to open. 

The patient has been identified as Koyamon from nearby Feroke. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon.

The door of the ambulance got jammed for almost half an hour, causing a delay in shifting the wounded man to the casualty ward of the hospital.

Though the driver and the attendant of the ambulance struggled to open the door for some time, they could not, leading to the patient's death.

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As time passed by, people around broke open the window glass and got the door opened from inside the ambulance, sources added.

On Monday evening, the deceased, Koyamon came out of his hotel after having his lunch. While he was crossing the highway, a two-wheeler hit him down and he was immediately rushed to a nearby Beach hospital. 

The doctors after checking him decided to shift the patient to the Kozhikode Medical College as his condition was deteriorating. He was taken in an ambulance owned by Kerala Health Services Authority to the Kozhikode Medical College. However, after reaching the Kozhikode Medical College, the ambulance in which he was brought failed to open as the door got jammed.

According to an eyewitness account, several people including the driver of the ambulance tried their best to open the jammed ambulance door to take out the patient, but they succeeded only after an axe was used to break open the door. In the meantime, around 30 precious minutes were lost. By the time the door got opened, the patient had already passed away.

Moreover, the family members alleged that the ambulance lacked the basic infrastructure to save the patient. It had no seat belt to secure the patient, and the doctor inside was unable to help the patient. As per the statement of the doctor, the ambulance was too old and had no facilities inside.

A family member of the deceased told The News Minute, "Around 30 minutes were lost and it was opened only after an axe was used to break open the door. By that time the patient succumbed to his injuries." 

Meanwhile, the Medical College police said they 'did not receive intimation' from the hospital so far regarding the incident.

Minister for Health Veena George has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

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