Malayali medical intern gets Uzbek honour after saving woman mid-flight
KOZHIKODE: High above the clouds, somewhere between Tashkent and Delhi, a young Kerala doctor-in-training found himself in the kind of life-or-death moment most people only read about. The cabin lights were dim, passengers were settling into the long flight, and suddenly, a frantic announcement cut through the silence: If there is a doctor or medical staff on board, please inform the crew immediately. It was a 24-year-old medical intern from Tirur, Malappuram -- Dr Anees Mohamed -- who stood up. With no equipment, no hospital setting, and thousands of feet above the ground, he was the only hope for a woman who had collapsed and was rapidly slipping into danger. That single moment of decision, fuelled by instinct and training, would not only save a life but also propel him into history as the first Indian and the first foreign national of any kind to be awarded Uzbekistans rare and prestigious Hero of the Country honour. The incident occurred on July 28 this year, where a 48-year-old woman collapsed mid-air. When I checked her vital signs, I found that her heart rate had shot up, a clear case of tachycardia, Dr Anees recalled. I began carotid sinus massage immediately, and within 10-15 seconds, she started stabilising. We monitored her closely until landing and handed her over to doctors in Delhi. At an official ceremony in Uzbekistan on December 4, Dr Anees stood humbly as he received the national award. I dont take this honour for myself. This award belongs to my family, friends, supporters, my university, my rector, dean and vice dean, everyone who guided me. Thank God for this blessing, he said. Though raised and schooled in Dubai, and now training with the Tashkent State Medical University in Uzbekistan, Dr Anees remains deeply rooted in Kerala. He frequently returns to work in hospitals across the state during academic breaks. The love you receive from patients in Kerala is immense, it motivates you to work harder, Dr Anees told TNIE. Whenever I get a vacation or fellowship break, I make sure I fly home to serve here. My dream is to specialise in trauma surgery, and my first preference is definitely to return to India for my masters. He keeps a meticulous surgical logbook even as an intern and has already made headlines for assisting in a major breast cancer surgery in India. His interests include trauma surgery, plastic surgery, and microvascular reconstruction. Outside medicine, Anees is a national MMA and kickboxing champion, and also trains young athletes, one of whom recently won a gold medal at a national event. Proud parents Husain Padasseri and Rahmath Nissa T Arakkal, along with siblings Ameen Ahsan, Rana, and Fida, said they always expected big things from him but never imagined an international government honour this early in his career. The Tashkent State Medical University issued an official note of appreciation, stating: We are proud that our students like Mohamed Anees are providing medical assistance to people around the world thanks to the knowledge they gained here.
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