A Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation driver and conductor in Coimbatore saved a passenger’s life on Sunday evening, November 9, through swift and decisive action. A man traveling on Route 45C showed alarming signs of distress, sweating heavily and clutching his chest. Observing his condition, the bus crew did not hesitate to act instead of continuing the regular route.
The bus was traveling from Annur to Gandhipuram, departing at 7:15 pm. Driver P. Sasikumar, aged 48, and conductor G. Dineshkumar, aged 33, noticed the passenger’s deteriorating condition. Initially, they offered him water and assistance, but he declined a hospital visit. Recognizing the urgency, they made the critical decision to divert the bus to a nearby hospital.
The bus, carrying 19 passengers, was rerouted to a private hospital located 1.5 kilometers away at Kurumbapalayam. Passengers cooperated fully, allowing the bus to reach the hospital by 7:45 pm. The medical team attended to the ailing man immediately. The bus remained parked until 8:10 pm to ensure proper communication with the police station and TNSTC branch manager. As a result, the vehicle arrived at Gandhipuram bus stand 25 minutes later than scheduled.
TNSTC officials recognized the exemplary conduct of Sasikumar and Dineshkumar. Regional authorities felicitated the duo at the headquarters, praising their prompt and responsible action in a high-pressure situation.
The passenger’s son shared that his father had attended a wedding in Kovilpalayam earlier that evening. During the bus ride, the man suffered convulsions, creating panic among travelers. Thanks to the quick intervention of the bus crew, he received timely medical care and was discharged later the same night in stable condition.
When a passenger shows symptoms like chest pain, profuse sweating, and convulsions, it may point toward a serious cardiovascular event, potentially an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack. Understanding what these signs mean can highlight why the TNSTC driver and conductor’s quick actions were so critical.
Chest pain remains the most recognized symptom in heart attacks. According to a large meta‑analysis of diagnostic studies, oppressive or tight chest pain had a pooled sensitivity of about 60 percent for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction.
However, sweating (diaphoresis) is also a very important symptom. In that same meta‑analysis, sweating had the highest pooled positive likelihood ratio (LR+) among the studied symptoms — making it particularly valuable for identifying a heart attack. 1
Public transport staff are often the first responders in medical emergencies. Training in basic first aid and quick decision-making can save lives. Passengers are encouraged to alert drivers and conductors immediately when someone shows distress.
References:
1. Bruyninckx, Rudi, Bert Aertgeerts, Pieter Bruyninckx, and Frank Buntinx. “Signs and Symptoms in Diagnosing Acute Myocardial Infarction and Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Diagnostic Meta‑analysis.” British Journal of General Practice 58, no. 547 (February 2008): 105‑11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18307844/
(Rh/ARC/MSM)