In a dramatic real-life rescue that echoed a scene from the Tamil film Mersal, a doctor travelling in plain clothes performed an emergency airway procedure on a critically injured road accident victim near Kochi, saving his life moments after the crash.
Emergency unfolds on Kochi road
The incident occurred around 8.30 pm on Sunday near Valiyakulam in Udayamperoor, Kochi, when two two-wheelers collided head-on. Three men were injured in the crash. One of them, Linu, a native of Kollam, suffered severe trauma and was found lying on the road gasping for breath.
Police said the other injured victims, Vipin and Manu, both from Ernakulam district, also sustained injuries and were later shifted for treatment.
Doctor steps in at critical moment
The life-saving intervention was led by Dr Manoop Bhasi, an assistant professor of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, who happened to be passing through the area. A native of Mavelikkara, Dr Manoop was returning to Kottayam Medical College after participating in a cycling race linked to the Kochi Carnival earlier in the day.
Seeing a crowd gathered on the road and three injured men lying unconscious, he immediately stopped his vehicle and rushed to assess their condition.
Split-second decision saves life
Applying trauma triage principles, Dr Manoop identified Linu as a ‘red category’ patient, indicating a life-threatening condition. The victim had sustained fractures to the neck, face and teeth, leading to severe airway obstruction and imminent risk of cardiac arrest.
With no medical equipment available, Dr Manoop improvised. With help from the police and local residents, he procured a shaving razor, made a small 2–3 cm incision in the cricothyroid membrane, and inserted a soft-drink straw into the windpipe to restore airflow until an ambulance arrived.
Teamwork on the ground
Dr Manoop was assisted by Dr Thomas Peter and Dr Didiya K Thomas from the Indira Gandhi Cooperative Hospital, Kadavanthra, who stopped after witnessing the accident. They provided care to the other injured victims while Dr Manoop accompanied Linu in the ambulance to Wellcare Hospital.
He later praised the cooperation of local residents, police personnel, and ambulance drivers Althaf and Anees, noting that everyone respected the request not to record the procedure.
Victim remains critical
Hospital sources said Linu’s condition remains critical but stable due to timely intervention. The incident has drawn widespread appreciation for the doctors’ presence of mind and highlights the importance of basic trauma awareness and swift emergency response.