Thiruvananthapuram News: Man trapped in lift for 42 hours wrote farewell message to family

Thiruvananthapuram news: A 59-year-old man, Ravindran Nair, was rescued on Monday morning after being trapped in a lift at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, for 42 hours. During his ordeal, Nair, a resident of Ulloor, wrote a farewell message to his family, fearing the worst.

Nair had been on his way to the hospital's outpatient department when the lift malfunctioned on Saturday at noon, leaving him stranded. With no food or water, his arms and legs began losing mobility. "I made every effort to escape the lift. I tried to open its doors, but when I managed that, I could see only walls. I hit the wall of the lift in frustration. Later, I was unable to move, my hands and legs were losing mobility, and I had no idea what time it was,” Nair recounted in an interview on Tuesday.

Chance Rescue

Using his mobile phone’s torch, Nair wrote a note to his family. “I was worried that if something happened to me, my children’s education would be affected. I had no water to drink, but I had some poems I had written in my bag, which kept me distracted,” he shared.

Nair was finally rescued by an operator who arrived for routine work. "I had tried calling all the emergency numbers listed inside the lift, but no one answered. After some time, I understood it was the second Saturday and a Sunday the next day, so I waited for help. When the operator came, I pressed the alarm. We both forcefully opened the door from both sides and I jumped out of the lift," he explained.

Following his rescue, Nair was admitted to the hospital for a detailed medical examination. His family had reported him missing to the Medical College police on the night of July 14.

Minister’s Visit and Investigation

On Tuesday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George visited Nair at the hospital and inquired about his health, which doctors described as "satisfactory." The Minister assured Nair and his family that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the incident. Nair expressed gratitude for her visit, describing it as a “great comfort.”

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has demanded a report from the MCH superintendent on how a patient could remain trapped in the hospital lift for 42 hours without being noticed. Acting chairperson K. Byjunath directed the superintendent to submit a detailed investigation report within 15 days, identifying whose negligence led to the incident.

In response to an emergency investigation, the State Health Department suspended three hospital employees—two lift operators and a duty sergeant. Minister George stated that a thorough probe would follow, and further actions would be taken based on the findings.