Mumbai Tragedy: Elderly Man Suffers Heart Attack In Andheri; Dies Before Reaching Hospital Due To Unavailability Of Ambulance | Canva
Mumbai: A 73-year-old Andheri resident, Steven Fernandes, suffered a fatal heart attack in the early hours of Thursday as his family struggled to arrange an ambulance in time. Despite living just five minutes from a private hospital and 20 minutes from the civic-run Dr. R.N. Cooper Hospital, critical minutes were lost due to an unresponsive emergency service and delays from a private ambulance.
“At 2 am, my husband and I were frantically calling every number we could find for an ambulance,” Mohua Gupta, Fernandes’ daughter-in-law, told Hindustan Times. Their first attempt was to dial 108, the state emergency response service, but the call either didn’t go through or connected to 103, the police helpline. With no help forthcoming, the family turned to an online search, which led them to a private ambulance vendor from Andheri East.
Relief Turns Into Distress Due To Ambulance Delay
Relieved that someone had agreed to come, the family focused on Fernandes, who lay unconscious. Moving him without assistance was impossible, as he weighed over 100 kg. However, their relief turned to distress when the private ambulance took over 40 minutes to arrive, despite the lack of traffic at that hour.
Upon arrival, the ambulance lacked essential medical equipment. “There was only a driver and a helper, no paramedic, no physician, not even a stretcher. Just a rubber mat for him to lie on,” Gupta told HT. There was also no oxygen supply or masks, which are critical for cardiac emergencies.
Adding to their frustration, before even shifting the patient, the ambulance service sent a text message demanding Rs 5,500 for the trip. “We were shocked. After protesting, they reduced the charge to Rs 2,500, but we had no choice but to pay,” she recalled.
Patient Passed Away Before Reaching Hospital
Shortly after the private ambulance left, the family dialed 108 again. This time, the call was diverted to Cooper Hospital, and an official ambulance was dispatched. However, it took another 30 minutes to arrive. By then, the crucial Golden Hour, the first 60 minutes after a heart attack, when timely medical intervention can be life-saving, had passed. Fernandes’ pulse had flatlined by the time he reached the hospital.
