2 Kerala nurses save passenger mid-air on Abu Dhabi flight
Army Doctor Rescues Unconscious Passenger on Flight
Kochi: Two nurses from Kerala became real-life heroes during their first international journey. The duo, who were travelling on Air Arabia flight 3L128 from Kochi to Abu Dhabi to join Response Plus Medical (RPM) as Registered Nurses, saved the life of a fellow passenger who fell critically ill mid-air.
According to Gulf News, the duo- Abhijith Jees has been identified as a 26-year-old nurse from Wayanad, and Ajeesh Nelson, a 29-year-old from Chengannur. Around 5:50 a.m., just 20 minutes after take off, Abhijith noticed a 34-year-old man from Thrissur slumped and unresponsive. “I checked his pulse, but there was none. I knew he was in cardiac arrest,” Abhijith said. “I immediately started CPR and alerted the crew.”
Acting swiftly, he and Ajeesh administered two rounds of CPR, reviving the passenger, who soon regained a pulse and began breathing. Dr Arif Abdul Khadir, a doctor on board, provided IV fluids and monitoring, ensuring the patient’s stability until landing.
Both nurses, who had prior hospital experience in India, handled the situation calmly at 35,000 feet, reports the Daily. Upon landing in Abu Dhabi, they proceeded to their new jobs without disclosing the incident. “You never expect something like this to happen, but when it does, you just do what you are trained for,” said Abhijith.
The story came to light through fellow traveller Brint Anto, also an RPM employee. The RPM management later honoured Abhijith and Ajeesh for their timely and life-saving intervention. “When I saw him move, I felt a deep sense of relief,” Abhijith said. “It reminded me that we carry our responsibility wherever we go.” “Saving a life before even starting our new jobs felt like the best welcome we could have received,” noted Ajeesh. He further added, “There was no panic. We just focused on what had to be done.”
