Heroic act: Army jawan saves infant with CPR on New Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express

NEW DELHI: An ambulance assistant of the Indian Army returning to duty from leave administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to an eight-month-old infant on a train and saved his life, a Defence official said on Saturday.Sepoy Sunil, posted at an Army field hospital in the northeast, performed CPR on an infant and stabilized the baby while traveling on the New Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, he said."His timely and professional action prevented a fatality in a situation where no immediate medical support was available," the Defence official said in a statement.

Earlier this week, an eight-month-old infant traveling on the train suddenly developed respiratory distress and became unresponsive.

The child’s mother fainted, fearing the baby had died, while other family members panicked, a defence official said.Sepoy (Ambulance Assistant) Sunil, posted at the 456 Field Hospital, was returning from leave and happened to be in the same coach. He immediately rushed to help and, upon examining the baby, found that the infant had no pulse or signs of breathing, the official added."Sunil immediately initiated paediatric cardio-pulmonary resuscitation using two fingers on the chest and gave mouth-to-mouth breathing to the child, and after about two cycles of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), the baby showed signs of life," he said.

The army man subsequently ensured coordination with train staff and railway police for the infant's further evacuation and medical management at Rangiya station in Assam, the Defence official said.He emphasised that the sepoy's decisive action and calm execution under pressure helped save a precious life. (With agencies inputs)