Lance Naik Hanumanthappa in comatose, next 48 hours critical

New Delhi, Feb 09: Indian Army said on Tuesday that Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, 19 Madras, is currently comatose and continues to be in shock with low blood pressure. He was admitted to Army Hospital Research and Referral (R&R) today.

As per the health bulletin issued, Lance Naik remains extremely critical and is expected to have a stormy course in the next 24 to 48 hours ‘due to the complications caused by re warming and establishment of blood flow to the cold parts of the body.' [Lance Naik Hanumanthappa's family members on the way to Delhi]

Army says the soldier was treated with warm intravenous fluids, humidified warm oxygen and passive external re-warming. The rescue team found the soldier on February 8, under 35 feet of ice and snow at a height of 20500 feet, since the avalanche hit Siachen on February 3. ["He is my son, I knew he would be alive", says Siachen survivor Lance Naik Hanamanthappa's mother]

"On recovery, he was found to be conscious but drowsy and disoriented. He was severely dehydrated, hypothermic, hypoxic, hypoglycemic and in shock," says an Army spokesperson.

He was immediately resuscitated by the doctors at the site, who had been there for the past five days in the hope of a survivor.

"He was flown out from the site on February 9 by helicopter along with a medical specialist to the Siachen Base Camp, from where he was brought to the This air base. He was then transferred to Delhi by a fixed wing aircraft of the IAF along with a critical care specialist of the IAF and medical specialist from the Siachen Base Camp," says the spokesperson.

Lance Naik Hanumanthappa has pneumonia and his investigations have revealed liver and kidney dysfunction.

"Fortunately there was no cold exposure related frost bite or bony injuries to him. He is being treated by a team of intensivists, neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons. He has been treated with fluids, drugs to bring up his blood pressure and antibiotics. He has been placed on a ventilator to protect his airway and lungs in view of his comatose state," says the spokesperson.

Earlier in the day, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag visited the hospital and commended the soldier's indomitable mental robustness and his refusal to give in to harsh elements of nature.

OneIndia News