23/12/2025
What are the odds that a dying man on the roadside would find himself surrounded by God's hands—a cardiothoracic surgeon, two emergency medicine resident doctors, police officers, and a crowd that transformed itself into nurses, attendants, and OT technicians—coming together to perform a life-saving cricothyrotomy, bare-handed with a razor blade and straw under torch lights?
Yet, this is exactly what happened in Kerala, on the night of 21st, at Udayanperoor, Kochi.
An Associate Professor from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kottayam Medical College, along with two emergency medicine residents—my own students—were on their way home when they encountered a critically injured man on the road. The patient, possibly suffering an acute myocardial infarction, had collapsed and was rapidly deteriorating.
Without hesitation, these doctors ran to the spot. With the support of alert police officers and an extraordinary crowd, they formed a spontaneous coordinated emergency team. Risking their own safety, they attempted what many of us would tremble to do even inside a fully equipped operating theatre under OT lights.
What unfolded was nothing short of heroic.
Dr. Manoop, Professor of CTVS, performed the cricothyrotomy with remarkable courage and skill, assisted by the equally heroic Dr. Thomas and Dr. Didya. Together, they gave a dying man a fighting chance—on the roadside, with bare hands.
At a time when doctors across India are often criticised for systemic failures beyond their control, these three doctors stand as a powerful statement:
Doctors in India have always been heroes in times of disaster—and always will be.
All we ask is a little light—like the torchlights held by the common people that night—and support, like that shown by the police officers. If you do, our white coats may just become the next superhero suits your children look up to.
Immensely proud of these three gentlemen, the supportive crowd, and the police officers who made this miracle possible.
Read more about it:- https://lnkd.in/gd48Mauk
