Army man rescues baby with life-saving CPR on speeding train

An Indian Army ambulance assistant, returning to duty from leave, saved the life of an eight-month-old baby by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a train, a Defence official said on Saturday.

Sepoy Sunil, who serves in a field hospital in the northeast, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and stabilised the infant while travelling on the New Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, the official stated.

"His timely and professional action prevented a fatality in a situation where no immediate medical support was available," the Defence official said in a statement.


Earlier this week, the infant developed sudden breathing difficulties and became unresponsive during the journey. The baby’s mother fainted, assuming her child had died, while other family members went into panic, the official added.

Sepoy (Ambulance Assistant) Sunil, posted at the 456 Field Hospital, was travelling in the same coach and rushed to help. On examining the baby, he discovered that the infant had no pulse or breathing.

"Sunil immediately initiated paediatric cardio-pulmonary resuscitation using two fingers on the chest and gave mouth-to-mouth breathing to the child, and after about two cycles of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), the baby showed signs of life," the official said.

Following the successful resuscitation, Sunil coordinated with train staff and railway police to ensure the infant’s evacuation and further medical treatment at Rangiya station in Assam.

The Defence official commended the sepoy, noting that his quick thinking and composed response under pressure saved a precious life.

[With PTI inputs]