Indian Embassy, well-wisher help man from getting leg amputated

Abu Dhabi - Repeated pay cuts and more such issues saw his employer cancel his visa

Timely intervention by the Indian Embassy, support from a 'guardian angel' and a generous hospital has helped a man from losing his legs following a freak accident.
Ratheesh landed in Dubai in 2015. The Indian man (from Kerala) joined a private company as a worker but the construction job out in the sun took its toll on him. He fell sick and missed work days. Repeated pay cuts and more such issues saw his employer cancel his visa.
Ratheesh then joined a cafeteria in Al Ain, which agreed to pay his visa fine of Dh3,000 but he couldn't get a new job visa. It was then that he started doing odd jobs in Abu Dhabi restaurants and groceries. What made matters worse was that his passport also expired last month.
In February first week, someone told Ratheesh that CID officers were doing random checking of residency visas. In a bid to avoid getting caught, Ratheesh tried to run but in the hurry fell and broke his leg. He was rushed to a LLH Hospital Musaffah and it was then that he contacted his brother's friend, Gopi Ramanathan, who works at a private firm in Abu Dhabi, who signed as his guardian in the hospital.
"I knew his brother and didn't want to leave Ratheesh in a lurch. He had a fracture in left leg and swelling in right one. The hospital realised there were issues with his visa and passport, and therefore called the police, who said he needed treatment first.
Learning the entire story, the hospital reduced Dh25,000 treatment expense to Dh3,500 and the doctors conducted a minor surgery. After the surgery they placed a traction kit for him to travel to Kerala. But there was no place to stay for him and there were many issues with visa and passport. So, I contacted Indian Embassy's First Secretary (Labour and Community Affairs) Dinesh Kumar," Ramanathan told Khaleej Times.
The Indian Embassy spoke to hospital management and they agreed to take care of Ratheesh untill his repatriation paperwork was done. The LLH Hospital is a unit of VPS Healthcare and its managing director Shamsheer Vayalil said they are going the extra mile now with such initiatives as this is the 'Year of Giving'.
"Being in healthcare sector, we have advantage of doing more for humanitarian cause. I received a call from the Indian Embassy and offered best care to Ratheesh," Vayalil said over phone from Kochi.
It was Dinesh Kumar, who took the matter seriously and helped. "Ratheesh's Dubai visa expired eight months back. So, with the help of Dubai Consulate Community Affairs Wing, we got clearance from Dubai Immigration.
"They waived off his fine and allowed him to be repatriated. As his passport had expired, the embassy issued him an out pass. On February 22, we were able to send him back on wheelchair class paid air ticket to Kochi along with a free air ticket to an accompanying person on the medical advice of the hospital from the Indian Community Welfare Fund Scheme. If he would not have been timely sent to India, his leg would have been amputated."
Ratheesh was admitted to a private hospital and had a successful surgery. "I thank staff at Indian Embassy, Consulate in Dubai, LLH Hospital. Importantly, Gopi, who being a stranger, still rescued me like an angel. All of them will be always remembered in my prayers. I am on bed rest and thanks to everyone's efforts I am doing well. I will like to return as I have huge debt here," Ratheesh said over phone from his native place.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi