Nagpur/Gadchiroli: The Managing Director of Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd (LMEL) personally flew a helicopter to airlift a policeman suffering a heart attack from a remote location in Gadchiroli district to Nagpur, saving his life, a press release by LMEL said.
The incident occurred on August 2 in the Hedri area of Gadchiroli, when Police Naik Rahul Sahebrao Gaikwad (37), attached to SRPF Group-II and posted at Hedri Police Station, experienced severe chest pain. He reported to the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Kali Ammal Memorial Hospital, run by LMEL in Hedri.
Medical staff at the hospital diagnosed a heart attack and recommended immediate transfer to a specialised cardiac centre in Nagpur.
Following the diagnosis, the Police Department contacted LMEL’s top management to request an emergency airlift.
Responding swiftly, LMEL Managing Director B Prabhakaran, who was in Hedri for a routine inspection of the Surjagarh Iron Ore Mines, arranged for the company’s helicopter and personally piloted it for the evacuation.
The helicopter landed at the Hedri Armed Outpost helipad at 2:45 PM, and the patient was immediately boarded along with nursing staff to manage his condition during the flight. The helicopter reached Nagpur Airport at 3:40 PM, where a critical care ambulance from Orange City Hospital was on standby.
Doctors diagnosed Gaikwad with a single artery block and a stent was successfully placed on the evening of August 4. After stabilisation, the patient was discharged from the hospital on August 5, the release added.