UP woman declared brain-dead comes back to life after ambulance hits pothole

A woman who had been declared “brain dead” by doctors at a private hospital in UP's Bareilly showed signs of life after the ambulance carrying her body home for last rites hit a pothole on the road, leading to a dramatic turn of events in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district.

The woman, Vinita Shukla, who works as a head copyist at the Pilibhit district court, had fallen seriously ill at her home in the city. As her condition worsened, her husband Kuldeep Shukla rushed her to a government hospital. Doctors there, seeing her critical condition, referred her to Bareilly for advanced treatment.

Kuldeep admitted Vinita to a private hospital in Bareilly, where she was put on ventilator support. During the course of treatment, doctors reportedly told Kuldeep that nothing more could be done to save her life. According to him, the doctors said she was effectively brain dead and advised the family to take her home, warning that once she was removed from the ventilator, the outcome would be clear.

Kuldeep requested the doctors to continue treatment for another night, but the next morning he was again told to take her home as there was no hope left. Following this, Kuldeep informed family members in Pilibhit, where preparations for Vinita’s last rites began. At home, her mother-in-law, son, daughter-in-law and daughter were waiting for the body, grieving and preparing for the funeral.

Kuldeep then began the journey back to Pilibhit with Vinita in an ambulance. However, near Hafizganj in Bareilly, the ambulance’s wheel fell into a pothole on the road, causing a strong jolt to everyone inside the vehicle.

As the occupants steadied themselves after the sudden shock, they were stunned to notice movement in Vinita’s body. The family immediately rushed her to a private hospital in Pilibhit. According to the family, doctors there were initially reluctant to admit the patient, but eventually examined her after the family insisted.

Once treatment began, Vinita gradually started showing signs of recovery. She improved steadily and is now back at home and recovering.

The neurosurgeon who treated her, Dr Rakesh Singh, later said there was a suspicion that the patient might have been suffering from the effects of a snake bite. Based on that possibility, doctors administered anti-venom injections along with other necessary treatment.

Dr Singh said that within about 24 hours, the patient’s condition began to improve gradually. She was also referred for consultation with neurology specialists in Lucknow. After nearly 13 days of treatment, Vinita recovered completely and is now living a normal life.

While the family considers the incident nothing short of a miracle, the medical team’s efforts and diagnosis have also drawn widespread appreciation across the city.

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