Claustrophobia is something that could really test your nerves, and when you are trapped inside a lift, it’s much more horrifying. Raveendran Nair of Ullur in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is a real hero who displayed true grit and resilience, surviving an unimaginable ordeal after being trapped for two days inside a damaged lift at Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram without food or water.
Raveendran, who was visiting the hospital for a routine check-up on Saturday, became ensnared in the lift after it malfunctioned, grinding to a halt between floors.
Despite his frantic attempts to raise the alarm, his calls for help didn’t yield any results. Faced with the daunting prospect of survival in a confined space, his fortitude was put to the ultimate test. For 48 gruelling hours, Raveendran drew on deep reserves of mental and physical strength. Alone and without sustenance, he conserved his energy and clung to the hope of rescue.
“I urinated in a corner. Sometimes, I would cry out loud. I couldn’t sleep. When I felt thirsty or hungry, I just licked my lips. I kept pressing the alarm bell regularly. Although the lift chamber had no fan or light, some air continued to waft in, ensuring a continuous supply of oxygen,” Raveendran was quoted as saying by Indian Express. He added that to keep up his morale, he recited the poems his wife wrote and published.
His ordeal finally ended on Monday morning when maintenance staff discovered the malfunctioning lift and were stunned to find Raveendran inside in an unconscious state but alive. He was swiftly taken to the hospital’s emergency department, where doctors assessed his condition as stable, albeit with significant dehydration and exhaustion.
As Raveendran recovers, his story stands as a powerful reminder of the incredible strength of the human spirit. His unwavering grit in the face of adversity highlights the profound capacity for endurance and hope that lies within us all.
According to Dr C J John, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist of Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi, Raveendran has shown real courage to withstand the fear that occurs when someone is caught trapped inside a small space, especially a lift. “Many suffer from claustrophobia, particularly while being in a lift. After being alone in the lift for a few hours, he could have garnered the strength to accept the reality that he needs to remain calm and wait for someone to come to rescue him. Proper counselling should be done on him to assess the trauma the incident has created on him,” Dr. John said.
Meanwhile, the health department has launched an inquiry into the incident and suspended three staff members who allegedly failed in their duty to properly maintain the lift.
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