‘God Took All My Happiness’: Sole Survivor of Air India Crash Reveals Agony of Losing Brother and 240 Others in Miracle Escape
- Vishwashkumar Ramesh, 39, walked away from the Air India plane wreckage in Ahmedabad, India, but lost his brother Ajay in the disaster that killed 241 people.
- The British citizen from Leicester, England, says he has endured ‘very difficult’ months since the crash, with flashbacks and physical pain haunting him.
- Mr Ramesh was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in India but has not received medical treatment since returning to the UK.
Vishwashkumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the devastating Air India crash that claimed 241 lives, has opened up about his unbearable mental and physical anguish in the months since the disaster. In a heart-wrenching interview with UK media, the 39-year-old revealed that he has been struggling to come to terms with the loss of his brother Ajay, who perished in the tragedy.
‘God gave me life but took all my happiness, and from my family,’ Mr Ramesh told Britain’s Press Association (PA) news agency, his voice cracking with emotion. ‘It completely brought down my family … it’s very difficult for me and my family.’
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in western India on June 12, smashing into a medical college and killing everyone on board except Mr Ramesh. His brother Ajay, who was just 35 years old, was among the victims.
‘Ajay was my strength, my everything,’ Mr Ramesh said, fighting back tears. ‘I get flashbacks all the time. I just stay awake, I sleep maybe three to four hours.’
Mr Ramesh’s harrowing account of the crash and its aftermath is a stark reminder of the enduring impact of the tragedy on the families of the victims. His own physical and emotional pain serve as a poignant testament to the human cost of the disaster.
In the weeks since the crash, Mr Ramesh has been struggling to cope with the trauma, revealing that he now suffers from pain in his leg, shoulder, knee, and back. He has not been able to work or drive since the tragedy and relies on his wife for support.
‘When I walk, not walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife helps,’ he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Despite his struggles, Mr Ramesh’s remarkable story of survival is a beacon of hope in the face of unimaginable tragedy. His courage in the face of adversity serves as a powerful reminder of the human spirit’s capacity for resilience and determination.