Two nurses from Kerala, traveling on their first international flight to Abu Dhabi from Kochi, saved the life of a fellow passenger who suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after takeoff, local media reported.

Abhijith Jees, 26, from Wayanad, and Ajeesh Nelson, 29, from Chengannur, were on Air Arabia flight 3L128 to join new jobs in the UAE when they noticed a man, also from Kerala, struggling to breathe just twenty minutes into the journey.

Realizing the severity of the situation, the duo immediately sprang into action. Abhijith checked the passenger’s pulse and found none, confirming he was in cardiac arrest. Both nurses performed two rounds of CPR, successfully stabilizing the man until he regained a pulse and began breathing.

A doctor on board, Dr. Arif Abdul Khadir, assisted the nurses by administering IV fluids and monitoring the patient’s vitals for the remainder of the flight, ensuring he remained stable until landing.

“When I saw him move, I felt a deep sense of relief. It reminded me that we carry our responsibility wherever we go,” Abhijith said, reflecting on the experience.

The nurses quietly continued their journey to their new workplace without reporting the incident, but the story later surfaced through another passenger. The patient, after receiving treatment from the airport medical team, was reported to be stable.

The man’s family expressed heartfelt gratitude to the two nurses for their courage and quick action. “They were strangers, yet they gave our loved one another chance at life. Their kindness and courage will always stay in our prayers,” they said.

The incident has highlighted the dedication and presence of mind of healthcare professionals, even outside their workplace, and has drawn widespread admiration from the public.