Moodbidri: Employer ferries comatose patient in an ambulance to UP; covers distance of 2,700 km in 41 hours

An Uttar Pradesh native who was in a comatose state was transported to his hometown in an Airavat ambulance from Moodbidri here.

The labourer, Mahandi Hassan was employed at an arecanut warehouse at Mastikatte in Moodbidri. He went into a coma after suffering an accidental fall while working.

Heeding the advise of Hassan’s co-workers, his employer Anil Mendonsa made arrangements to transport him to his native via plane. However, the airline said that the patient cannot be transported if he was not accompanied by medical staff.

In this backdrop, Mendonsa then contacted a driver named Ashwath, completed the discharge formalities from the hospital, and also procured a letter from the nearby police station about being responsible for the patient’s health. The duo then left for Moradabad on September 10 evening in the Airavat ambulance which was equipped with oxygen cylinders.

The ambulance travelled non-stop to cover a distance of nearly 2,700 km within 41 hours. They only stopped for fuel refills on the way. On September 12 at around 10.30 am they reached Moradabad where Hassan was then admitted to Shreya Neuro Center.

The expenses for this travel were entirely borne by Mendonsa who returned to Moodbidri on Thursday. He said that he had gotten a call saying that Hassan was recovering.