AN Indian man, who slipped into a coma two months ago, will finally be flown home today after a donor came forward to pay for his travel costs. The GDN reported last month that airlines were shunning appeals to fly Aanikunyil Hameed home to be near his family.
However, a local company has come forward to cover the BD2,000 costs of flying him out of Bahrain, accompanied by a male nurse.
The 46-year-old was admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) on August 3 after collapsing en route in an ambulance taking him from KIMS Medical Centre.
His brother-in-law Ashraf Kuniyl earlier said he was worried about his condition, as there had been no improvement since then.
Volunteers had approached different carriers to fly Mr Hameed home for free.
Only Gulf Air agreed to waive the ticket price, but it does not fly to Kozhikode in Kerala, where he lives.
Three other regional carriers that do fly to Kozhikode said no, according to the head of a coalition tasked with getting him home.
He will now leave on an Oman Air flight to Kozhikode and social workers are finalising the necessary documents.
“SMC nurse Abdulhussain Ahmed Ali Abdulnabi will accompany Mr Hameed,” said ICRF helpline convenor Chemban Jalal, who is following up the case.
“We are in the process of getting the visa for Mr Abdulnabi through the Indian Embassy.
“The finance house, which asked to remain anonymous, called us after reading Mr Hameed’s plight in the GDN last month.
“A spokesman called and said they were ready to take care of the expenses for Mr Hameed’s and Mr Abdulnabi’s tickets.
“Mr Abdulnabi will present the medical records and explain to doctors at the Kozhikode Medical College about the patient’s condition and come back the same night.”
He said Mr Hameed’s family were now eager to get him home.
“We are grateful to the finance house for its generous donation and kindness towards this poor man,” he added.
“His family, especially his wife, is desperate to see him and learn about his condition.
“We will stay in touch with his family to get an update on his condition.”
Social workers from different associations formed a committee on August 25 to raise funds and support the family.
The committee members are chairman K M Kunchiraman, general convener A P Faisal and treasurer T P Subair.
“We all have worked really hard to solve this matter,” said Mr Kunchiraman.
“His family requested us to send him back for further treatment, so we appointed volunteers and social workers to work on this case.
“We called his family and informed them that Mr Hameed is now coming back, and they were so happy to know that.”
Mr Hameed came to Bahrain more than 20 years ago, but for the past two years has been working as an office boy at Kuwait Finance House (KFH), under supply from the Star Group Company.
He slipped into a coma on his way to the SMC from the KIMS Medical Centre, where a doctor said he had high blood pressure and heart, kidney and liver problems.
Gulf Daily