A 34-year-old Bengaluru man died on a public road after suffering a heart attack following a series of delays in receiving emergency medical care, an incident that has drawn attention to gaps in pre-hospital response, hospital accessibility, and bystander intervention during medical emergencies.
The man, Venkataramanan, a mechanic began experiencing chest pain at his home in Bengaluru, around 3am on December 13 prompting his wife, Roopa to urgently seek medical help.
What followed was a frantic effort to secure timely treatment during a critical window when rapid intervention can be lifesaving.
Reports indicate that the deceased had a history of cardiac issues and the couple first approached a nearby hospital, where they were unable to get any treatment since no doctor was present. With the man’s condition deteriorating, they took off on a two-wheeler to the next hospital. They were asked to shift to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences from there after an ECG confirmed he had a heart attack.
Due to the pain and unavailabiliy of other vehicles, they tried to reach the hospital with the two wheeler, but their vehicle was involved in a road accident near their residence, further worsening the already critical situation.
Shortly thereafter, the man collapsed on the road near the Kaderanahalli area on the outskirts of the city. Video footage circulating online shows his wife repeatedly pleading with folded hands for assistance as bystanders looked on and pass by without helping or stopping their vehicles. Soon a pedestrian came and stayed with them while Roopa was trying to get help. Later the deceased's sister also came and tried to help them and perform CPR when Venkataramanan lost consciousness.
Finally, a cab driver stopped and helped to take him to the cardiac care hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Despite this heartbreaking ordeal, his wife chose to donate his eyes. Authorities and hospital representatives have since been approached for clarification regarding the circumstances under which the patient was denied or delayed emergency care.
From a medical perspective, this case highlights the importance of the “golden hour,” the critical period immediately following the onset of a life-threatening condition such as a heart attack or cardiac arrest. During this window, rapid medical intervention, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation when indicated, oxygen support, and swift transport to a facility capable of providing advanced cardiac care, can significantly reduce mortality and long-term complications.
Clinical research consistently shows that in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, survival decreases by approximately 7–10% for every minute that passes without effective resuscitation. Early bystander CPR and rapid emergency response are therefore central to improving outcomes.
Public health research published in The Lancet Regional Health 1 – Southeast Asia has highlighted that delayed emergency response and limited access to organized pre-hospital care contribute to a substantial number of preventable deaths across the region each year.
While precise city-level data on fatalities caused by delayed response are not centrally maintained in India, studies indicate that deficiencies in emergency transport systems, hospital triage capacity, and public first-aid preparedness collectively result in significant avoidable mortality, particularly in cardiovascular emergencies.
Reference
1. Reddy, K. S., G. Chakaraborty, A. Kapoor, and A. Dey. “Emergency Care Access and Avoidable Mortality in South Asia: A Regional Analysis.” The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia 7 (2023): 100100. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2772-3682(23)00082-3
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