NDA aspirant defies odds: 20-year-old survives fifth-floor fall and month-long coma

A fall from the terrace on the fifth-floor of his Mahim residence resulted in a month-long coma and a permanent disability in his right elbow, forever changing the course of his life.

Although his dreams of joining the defence forces were dashed, Devansh is carving a new path enrolling in a BCom programme at Kalina University on Tuesday.

The accident occurred on February 7, while Devansh was exercising on his rooftop to prepare for the NDA exam. The terrace lacked a protective parapet, leading to a slip that caused multiple injuries, including six fractures and a punctured lung.

“I was in the kitchen when I heard the chaos outside. When I rushed out, I saw my son, motionless, lying in a pool of blood. We hurried him to the hospital. At that moment, we feared the worst and thought that there was very little hope of his survival,” said Pavitra Pednekar, his mother.

Devansh was rushed to SL Raheja Hospital in Mahim in a comatose state.

Dr. Sanjith Saseedharan, director of critical care at the hospital, described the initial treatment: “We put him on a ventilator, splinted the fractures, and placed a chest tube to prevent death from the punctured lung. Thankfully, there was no intra-abdominal bleeding. He was resuscitated with multiple bags of blood and plasma.”

The hospital assembled a team of specialists — comprising Dr. Amit Nabar, Dr. Lalit Panchal, Dr. Gaurav Mishra, and Dr. Tofique Bohra — who worked tirelessly to stabilise Devansh’s condition.

On the fourth day, he developed “sympathetic storming”, which caused his pulse to spike over 180 and his temperature to rise above 104 degrees.

Continuous seizures followed, but through therapeutic cooling techniques, doctors managed to stabilize his condition over the next 12 days.

Surgery posed a significant dilemma as the doctors debated whether to operate while he was still in a coma. Delaying surgeries could complicate future procedures. Ultimately, they performed a four-hour surgery on his legs and an eight-hour surgery on his facial bones to prevent infection and bedsores.

The team carried out seven critical surgeries, including panfacial trauma reduction with mandibular reconstruction and a percutaneous tracheostomy.

His father, Vivek Pednekar, a police officer at Dharavi police station, faced substantial financial burdens, with hospital bills reaching nearly Rs 32 lakh.

He took loans from family members, but fortunately, his police department’s medical scheme provided crucial assistance.

“Without the support from the police department, we wouldn’t have been able to pay the bills. Even after discharge, some bills remained pending, which we gradually paid off through further borrowing. Thankfully, the hospital was understanding and didn’t hassle us,” Vivek Pednekar said.

Devansh’s condition gradually improved. By the 25th day, the tube in his windpipe was removed, and he started eating normally by day 28. He was discharged on March 23 after spending 42 days in the hospital, though his full recovery is expected to be long.

“He is able to walk on his own, although he still struggles with balance. What’s truly miraculous is that despite the severe head injury, we feared he might never be the same again. But he is fully conscious and able to speak properly,” said Pavitra.

After his discharge, Devansh moved to a rehabilitation facility to aid his recovery and manage his pain effectively.

Although he can now walk independently, it will take more time for him to fully recover from his traumatic injuries.

Before the accident, Devansh had paused his BCom studies in 2022 to focus on the NDA exam, emphasizing math, general knowledge, and English.

Despite his physical limitations, he has decided to continue his education.

On Monday, he resumed his BCom studies at Kalina University. “I know I won’t be able to join the defence forces, but I will use this newfound life more diligently as I didn’t even think that I would survive to tell my tale,” said Devansh, who now has the national song as his caller tune.