Mangalore : The young bird chaser of Mangalore International Airport is still having nightmares about the tragic plane crash of May 22. Dr. Kiran Kumar of Highlands Hospital says that he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression and requires at least 6 months of psychological counseling to get back to normal.
Twenty-year-old Mohammed Akbar Sadiq was clearing the runway of birds on that fateful day. He had reached the airport at 5:30 a.m. and was the first witness to the horrifying crash. He was also the one who informed the airport authorities about the crash before rushing to the site with 4 fire brigades. He pulled out a half-dead child from the flames and rushed it to the ambulance. Later, when he was trying to remove a body from the site, the half-burnt flesh fell on his face and he had to take first aid. This did not stop him from rushing back to the site to join the rescue team.
The second time he fainted at the site and had to be given oxygen. In spite of the trauma, he continuing helping as soon as he felt better. However, the young man is badly affected by the crash. He can no longer take non-vegetarian food and has become numb with shock.
Now under treatment, the young bird chaser says that he “is ok” and that Air India paid his hospital bills and helped him a lot.