In brief
In a heart-wrenching interview, Viswashkumar Ramesh, the only survivor of an Air India crash that killed 241 people, recounts feelings of being the 'luckiest man alive' while grappling with PTSD and the loss of his brother, who died in the incident. Since returning home, he faces both physical pain and emotional grief, as he describes how the tragedy has shattered his family life and sense of normalcy. His advocates demand better support from Air India as he navigates this challenging recovery journey.
The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash, which killed 241 people on board, has said he feels like the 'luckiest man' alive, but is also suffering physically and mentally. Viswashkumar Ramesh walked away from the wreckage of the London-bound flight in Ahmedabad in extraordinary scenes that amazed the world. He said it was a 'miracle' he escaped but told how he has lost everything, as his younger brother Ajay was a few seats away on the flight and died in the crash in June. Since returning to his home in Leicester, Mr Ramesh has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), his advisers said, and has been unable to speak to his wife and four-year-old son.Flames engulfed the Boeing 787 flight when it went down shortly after take-off in western India. Shocking video showed Mr Ramesh walking away from the aftermath with seemingly superficial injuries, as smoke billowed in the background. Speaking to BBC News, an emotional Mr Ramesh, whose first language is Gujarati, said: 'I'm only one survivor. Still, I'm not believing. It's a miracle.' He described the devastating impact the ordeal has had on his family life, stating, 'Now I'm alone. I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house.'After the traumatic event, he struggles with illness, pain, and isolation. Mr Ramesh expressed that he suffers pain in his leg, shoulder, knee, and back, and has not been able to work or drive since the tragedy. His family business has collapsed, and they have received inadequate support from the airline. The advocates for Mr Ramesh call for Air India to take responsibility, stating, 'It's devastated his family.' As the investigation continues, there is a renewed demand from the survivor's allies for a direct engagement with the airline to facilitate proper support and acknowledgment of their needs.
