Doctor saves passenger’s life at Bengaluru airport after heart attack

In a true “Cometh the moment, cometh the woman” scenario, Dr. Garima Aggarwal, a nephrologist and renal transplant physician at Manipal Hospitals, became a life-saver for a fellow passenger who collapsed after suffering a heart attack at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Sunday evening.

Dr. Aggarwal, who was about to board a flight to Delhi for a family function, noticed a commotion at a neighboring gate. Initially assuming it was just another airport disturbance, she soon realized the situation was a medical emergency when the crowd became agitated. “I saw a man who had collapsed, and no one seemed trained to handle the situation,” she told TOI.

Without hesitation, she rushed to the scene, leaving all her belongings behind. Upon assessing the man, she found he was cold, unresponsive, and without a pulse. Drawing on her medical expertise, she immediately began CPR on the floor, calling out for any available medical help. During this tense moment, she faced the challenge of clearing his airway, which was blocked by vomit. After managing to clear it, she resumed CPR.

Minutes later, an airport medical team arrived with an automated external defibrillator (AED), and together they continued the resuscitation efforts. After delivering several shocks and administering vital medications, the patient’s pulse returned, though he remained unconscious. “My only aim was to save him,” Dr. Aggarwal said, reflecting on the urgency of the moment.

After approximately 15 minutes, the man’s condition stabilized, and he was transferred to a hospital. Despite the life-saving effort, Dr. Aggarwal managed to board her flight as the last passenger, with fellow travelers expressing their heartfelt gratitude for her swift actions.

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