In a heart-wrenching account, a 40-year-old British man shared how he miraculously survived the tragic Air India crash, becoming the only known survivor amidst immense loss.
Survivor of Air India Crash Describes Miraculous Escape from Wreckage
Survivor of Air India Crash Describes Miraculous Escape from Wreckage
Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the devastating Air India crash, recounts his escape from the wreckage.
“I walked out of rubble,” declared Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that occurred shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was en route to London when it tragically collided with a building, costing the lives of all other passengers and crew members aboard.
Mr. Ramesh, 40, seated in 11A, described how he managed to escape through an opening in the fuselage. “I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out,” he recounted to Indian state media DD News from his hospital bed.
Details about the crash remain scarce, but authorities confirmed the loss of 169 Indian nationals and 52 British nationals, with over 200 bodies recovered so far. Eyewitness reports indicated a series of flickering lights moments after takeoff, followed by a catastrophic impact with an accommodation building for medical staff at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.
Despite the horrors inside the aircraft, Mr. Ramesh noted that the section where he was seated came to rest away from the building, allowing him a chance to escape. “When the door broke and I saw there was some space, I tried to get out of there and I did. No one could have got out from the opposite side, which was towards the wall,” he explained.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, with one black box already recovered, promising critical leads for the inquiry. Social media footage showed Mr. Ramesh walking towards an ambulance amid smoke and debris, as he grappled with disbelief over his survival.
He expressed deep sorrow for the lives lost, recounting, “I saw people dying in front of my eyes,” and relaying that moments passed where he believed he too would perish.
After his treatment, Dr. Dhaval Gameti commented on Mr. Ramesh's condition, stating he was disoriented with injuries but was now out of danger. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the crash site and the hospital, expressing condolences to all those affected.
Mr. Ramesh’s family, including his brother Ajay, who was also aboard the flight, have been receiving support from the British government. They aspire to travel to India to be with him as he recovers. The Foreign Office has set up helplines to assist British nationals affected by the tragedy.
Originally from India, Mr. Ramesh has been residing in the UK since 2003 and is a businessman with a wife and a four-year-old son. The horrific accident has initiated tributes for the victims including a woman and her grandson, who tragically lost their lives in this appalling incident.
