August 12, 2020: A doctor in Surat who was on oxygen support, fighting the coronavirus infection, did not lose a second to rescue a critically-ill elderly Covid-19 patient.

Dr Sanket Mehta, an anaesthetist, saved the life of 71-year-old Dinesh Purani who required urgent intubation for ventilator support. According to doctors, intubation of a collapsed patient has to be done within three minutes or else it could damage the brain permanently.

The incident took place on the night of August 9 at BAPS Hospital in Adajan where 37-year-old Dr Mehta, who has tested positive of Covid-19, was admitted in the ICU due to breathlessness and low oxygen level.

As per reports, the doctors and health staff in the ICU saw Dr Mehta, who was just two beds away from Purani, removed his oxygen support, gathered strength and walked towards the patient’s bed and intubated in no time.

Dr Mehta was working with the BAPS Hospital a few years ago started his own private practice as visiting anaesthetist in private hospitals.