Mumbai: A 57-year-old man from Gujarat, Rahul Naik, has praised the quick response of the Mumbai Airport medical team after they saved his life following a sudden cardiac arrest.
The incident took place on Doctor’s Day (July 1) at Terminal 1 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai. Naik, who hails from Rajkot, collapsed near the check-in counter after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Thanks to the immediate response by the airport’s medical team, Naik was revived on the spot. Paramedic Komal Sonawane and Dr. Shalini Soundar Pandian administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and delivered two shocks using an AED (automated external defibrillator) to restore his heartbeat and consciousness.
In a video message shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Naik expressed deep gratitude for the efforts of the staff. "The paramedic team at the airport swiftly gave me CPR and shock treatment and revived me. After that, I was shifted to Nanavati Hospital in a cardiac ambulance,” he said.
Naik also highlighted the importance of CPR awareness and urged that CPR equipment and training should be made widely available at all airports and public places, such as bus stands, to help save more lives in emergencies.
CPR is a life-saving emergency procedure that combines chest compressions and rescue breathing to keep blood and oxygen flowing to vital organs when someone’s heart or breathing stops.
The airport's official account posted a heartfelt message on X, saying, “At Terminal 1, a passenger suffered a sudden cardiac arrest near the check-in counter. Without missing a beat, our medical team sprang into action. Thanks to the timely response by Komal Sonawane and Dr. Shalini Soundar Pandian, the passenger was revived and safely transferred to a nearby hospital.”
They added that the airport's Advanced Life Support Ambulance assisted in transporting the stabilised passenger to Nanavati Hospital.
The post concluded by recognising both the medical professionals as “true guardians of life” whose dedication made all the difference in a critical moment.