On 12 June, the world watched in shock as a lone man emerged from the smouldering wreckage of Air India Flight AI 171, which had crashed en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick. Black smoke poured from the tail end of the aircraft, lodged against a building, yet amidst this horror, Viswashkumar Ramesh, dressed in a white T-shirt and grey trousers, walked with a slight limp, repeating in disbelief, “Plane fatyo che! Plane fatyo che!” (The plane has exploded!).
He was the sole survivor of a catastrophe that claimed 241 lives, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The scale of the tragedy is almost unimaginable, many victims were charred beyond recognition. Against all odds, Viswash survived. But survival, as he reveals today, has come at an enormous physical, emotional, and financial cost.
Four and a Half Months Later: The Psychological Trauma of Being the Sole Survivor
We meet Viswashkumar Ramesh, 39, in Leicester, UK, at the residence of community leader Sanjiv Patel, who has been voluntarily supporting the family. Walking has been difficult for Viswash since he jumped, or perhaps fell, from the burning plane. This physical limitation has forced him to stop driving and stay largely confined to his home.
“After this tragedy, not just my wife and son, my whole family is completely broken down. Me, physically, mentally, and my family also,” Viswash tells us, his voice heavy with grief.
Seated in 11A on the aircraft, next to an emergency exit, Viswash watched his younger brother Ajaykumar, who sat in 11J, perish along with the rest of the passengers. The trauma of surviving while his brother died has left deep scars.
Following initial treatment in Rajkot, India, Viswash returned to the UK on 15 September, intending to continue medical care under the NHS and be with his wife Hiral and their four-year-old son Divang. However, he has yet to see an NHS doctor or receive any psychiatric counselling.
Living With the Lingering Effects of PTSD and Physical Injuries
Even basic tasks, like walking, remain a challenge for Viswash. He explains: “I walk slowly. I have not gone outside much. My shoulder, back, knee, left side are still in pain. Mentally, I have completely broken down.”
His days are mostly spent alone, confined to his two-bedroom home, avoiding interaction even with his family. Nightmares and flashbacks of the crash haunt him, making it almost impossible to reconnect with his loved ones.
“I don’t talk with my son or wife. I just sit in my room. The tragedy keeps coming back to me,” he says.
His once-thriving fishing business in Diu, which he ran with Ajaykumar, has collapsed. The family’s boats were out of operation for months, and fishermen were forced to find other work. With little income and mounting grief, Viswash’s financial and emotional situation is dire.
The Challenge of Returning to Normal Life After Surviving a Plane Crash
Returning to air travel itself was traumatic. Viswash avoided Air India, opting for another carrier, and describes the journey as “very difficult,” relying on prayer for courage.
Despite returning to the UK, he has struggled to reintegrate into daily life:
Even his wife’s Universal Credit was stopped when she travelled to India for two months following the crash. A UK government spokesperson clarified that bereavement-related travel benefits continue for one to two months, depending on duration.
Compensation Offered by Air India: £21,500 Interim Payment
Air India has provided Viswash an interim payment of £21,500 (approximately Rs 25 lakh), equivalent to what is being offered to the families of the deceased. The payment will be adjusted against any final compensation.
Legal and crisis experts helping the family, including Sanjiv Patel and retired lawyer Radd Seiger, stress that the compensation is inadequate given Viswash’s complex needs, including mental health support, medical care, and financial rebuilding.
“This is the sole survivor of a major aviation disaster. If ever there was a case for the CEO of Air India to meet personally with the survivor, this is it,” says Seiger.
A Family Shattered and Rebuilding in Leicester
Viswash’s parents moved to the UK 25 years ago, and his father ran a garments business in Leicester. Viswash joined them at the age of 14 and helped in the family business before reinvesting in a fishing venture in Diu.
The sudden loss of Ajaykumar and the collapse of the fishing business has left the family struggling financially and emotionally. The trauma has affected every family member, particularly Viswash, who describes himself as “completely broken down.”
“Before, my life was smooth and nice. Now, it is completely ruined. I have changed,” he admits.
The Urgent Need for Medical, Psychological, and Financial Support
Experts insist that Viswash’s case requires urgent, specialised PTSD treatment, physical rehabilitation, and personalised compensation support. Yet the family has encountered bureaucratic delays both from Air India and the NHS.
Patel stresses, “The situation is desperate. The NHS is not geared for expedited care. Air India has not engaged with the survivor personally. Immediate intervention is essential.”
Inputs from TOI
He was the sole survivor of a catastrophe that claimed 241 lives, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The scale of the tragedy is almost unimaginable, many victims were charred beyond recognition. Against all odds, Viswash survived. But survival, as he reveals today, has come at an enormous physical, emotional, and financial cost.
Four and a Half Months Later: The Psychological Trauma of Being the Sole Survivor
We meet Viswashkumar Ramesh, 39, in Leicester, UK, at the residence of community leader Sanjiv Patel, who has been voluntarily supporting the family. Walking has been difficult for Viswash since he jumped, or perhaps fell, from the burning plane. This physical limitation has forced him to stop driving and stay largely confined to his home.
“After this tragedy, not just my wife and son, my whole family is completely broken down. Me, physically, mentally, and my family also,” Viswash tells us, his voice heavy with grief.
Seated in 11A on the aircraft, next to an emergency exit, Viswash watched his younger brother Ajaykumar, who sat in 11J, perish along with the rest of the passengers. The trauma of surviving while his brother died has left deep scars.
Following initial treatment in Rajkot, India, Viswash returned to the UK on 15 September, intending to continue medical care under the NHS and be with his wife Hiral and their four-year-old son Divang. However, he has yet to see an NHS doctor or receive any psychiatric counselling.
Living With the Lingering Effects of PTSD and Physical Injuries
Even basic tasks, like walking, remain a challenge for Viswash. He explains: “I walk slowly. I have not gone outside much. My shoulder, back, knee, left side are still in pain. Mentally, I have completely broken down.”
His days are mostly spent alone, confined to his two-bedroom home, avoiding interaction even with his family. Nightmares and flashbacks of the crash haunt him, making it almost impossible to reconnect with his loved ones.
“I don’t talk with my son or wife. I just sit in my room. The tragedy keeps coming back to me,” he says.
His once-thriving fishing business in Diu, which he ran with Ajaykumar, has collapsed. The family’s boats were out of operation for months, and fishermen were forced to find other work. With little income and mounting grief, Viswash’s financial and emotional situation is dire.
The Challenge of Returning to Normal Life After Surviving a Plane Crash
Returning to air travel itself was traumatic. Viswash avoided Air India, opting for another carrier, and describes the journey as “very difficult,” relying on prayer for courage.
Despite returning to the UK, he has struggled to reintegrate into daily life:
- He avoids social interaction
- Rarely leaves home
- Cannot drive due to physical injuries
- Lives with chronic pain
- Financially dependent on limited compensation
Even his wife’s Universal Credit was stopped when she travelled to India for two months following the crash. A UK government spokesperson clarified that bereavement-related travel benefits continue for one to two months, depending on duration.
Compensation Offered by Air India: £21,500 Interim Payment
Air India has provided Viswash an interim payment of £21,500 (approximately Rs 25 lakh), equivalent to what is being offered to the families of the deceased. The payment will be adjusted against any final compensation.
Legal and crisis experts helping the family, including Sanjiv Patel and retired lawyer Radd Seiger, stress that the compensation is inadequate given Viswash’s complex needs, including mental health support, medical care, and financial rebuilding.
“This is the sole survivor of a major aviation disaster. If ever there was a case for the CEO of Air India to meet personally with the survivor, this is it,” says Seiger.
A Family Shattered and Rebuilding in Leicester
Viswash’s parents moved to the UK 25 years ago, and his father ran a garments business in Leicester. Viswash joined them at the age of 14 and helped in the family business before reinvesting in a fishing venture in Diu.
The sudden loss of Ajaykumar and the collapse of the fishing business has left the family struggling financially and emotionally. The trauma has affected every family member, particularly Viswash, who describes himself as “completely broken down.”
“Before, my life was smooth and nice. Now, it is completely ruined. I have changed,” he admits.
The Urgent Need for Medical, Psychological, and Financial Support
Experts insist that Viswash’s case requires urgent, specialised PTSD treatment, physical rehabilitation, and personalised compensation support. Yet the family has encountered bureaucratic delays both from Air India and the NHS.
Patel stresses, “The situation is desperate. The NHS is not geared for expedited care. Air India has not engaged with the survivor personally. Immediate intervention is essential.”
Inputs from TOI
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