Surat doctor who gave own oxygen support to elderly C ovid patient to return home on Nov 1

A Surat-based doctor who risked his life to intubate a Covid-19 patient is "fine" and has booked his tickets to fly back home from Chennai on November 1 after battling the virus for over 90 days.

Dr Sanket Mehta, who had tested positive for the virus, shot to fame when he removed his oxygen support to help an elderly Covid patient despite being in 'critical condition' at a hospital in Surat where spent for 45 days.

He was airlifted to Chennai on September 13 after his condition worsened. He has now recovered, doctors treating him at MGM Healthcare said on Tuesday.

The hospital’s clinical director and consultant Apar Jindal said Dr Mehta’s lungs had been heavily damaged when was flown to Chennai.

"His lungs have shown remarkable improvement and he is now breathing naturally. We are glad to have nursed a hero and a Corona warrior like Dr Mehta back to good health," he said.

When reporters sought to know how he was, Mehta, who was seen sitting in his bed during the press conference, showed the 'thumbs up' sign and said "I am fine" in a feeble voice.

Asked what inspired him to remove his oxygen support to extend support to the elderly patient, he said, "it is (the) duty of a doctor (to save a patient's life)". The hospital said Dr Mehta could barely move his fingers when he was first brought there.

Dr Mehta was put on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (heart lung assistance) for 34 days and since his condition gradually improved, he was taken off ECMO support. He then underwent physiotherapy.

MGM’s heart and lung transplant co-director Suresh Rao said, "He is very much interested to resume normal life and wants to go back. He has booked his plane tickets on November 1 (to go back to Surat).”