Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 19: In a commendable feat, a Kasargod based ambulance driver covered a distance of 462 km in just 5 hours and 30 minutes on April 16, to save the life of a 15-day infant.

Hasan (32) who has a driving experience of 8 years shifted the infant that had to undergo an urgent heart transplant from Father Muller Hospital, Mangaluru to Amrutha Hospital in Kochi.

Hasan took it up as a challenge to cover 462 km in the record time, and set off with the infant battling for life at 11 am. Thanks to his exceptional driving skills and coordination from traffic department, the baby reached Kochi hospital at 4.30 pm.

Speaking to daijiworld.com, Hasan said, "The baby was just 15 days old, and was in need of heart surgery so I drove from Mangaluru to Kochi. But I was tensed all the while as I wanted to save the life of the infant at any cost. Ambulance Drivers and Owners Association members and police escorted the ambulance from Mangaluru to Kochi,” said Hasan.

“A whatsapp group was created with the concerned authorities and updates were sent out to clear the traffic wherever needed. Accordingly the junction where traffic congestion is usually seen was cleared on priority and a smooth way was made for the ambulance to pass. I thank all the people, police and members of Ambulance Drivers and Owners Association for helping me to shift the infant safely,” he said.

"The staff of Kings Sunrise Hospital, Kasargod led by Dr Shijo helped us in providing all the facilities required to aid the infant in the ambulance," he added.

However, this feat is not a first for Hasan. Just a year ago, he had driven the ambulance from AJ Hospital to Thiruvananthapuram to save a 45 year old and covered a distance of 652 km in 8 hours.