Two young nurses from Kerala saved a passenger’s life during their first-ever international flight from Kochi to Abu Dhabi on October 13.
Abhijith Jees, 26, from Wayanad and Ajeesh Nelson, 29, from Chengannur, were on their way to start new jobs in the UAE when a man collapsed mid-flight. The incident occurred around 35,000 feet above the Arabian Sea, shortly after the 5.30 am takeoff from Kochi.
Abhijith noticed the man gasping for air and immediately began performing CPR in the aisle. Ajeesh joined him and the two took turns administering chest compressions while monitoring the passenger’s breathing. The cabin crew cleared space as anxious passengers looked on.
After two rounds of CPR, the man regained a pulse and began breathing again. A doctor on board, Dr Arif Abdul Khadir, assisted the nurses in stabilising the patient and starting IV fluids. The medical team continued monitoring his condition until the flight landed.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, airport medical personnel took over and transferred the man for further treatment. He was later reported to be in stable condition.
Abhijith and Ajeesh were traveling to join Response Plus Medical (RPM), a subsidiary of Response Plus Holding, one of the UAE’s major emergency and onsite healthcare providers. They quietly proceeded to their workplace after landing, without mentioning the incident. The story became known only after a fellow passenger, Brint Anto, also an RPM employee, shared what had happened.