Kickboxer’s death: Kin blame it on Raipur hospital

KOTTAYAM: The death of a 24-year-old kickboxer, who won the bronze for India in the Asian Championship in 2015, at a private hospital at Vaikom near here on Thursday morning, could be due to medical negligence during his stay at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur, his kin have alleged.
Harikrishnan, who was airlifted to Kerala from Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, breathed his last on Thursday morning. According to the relatives, the alleged medical negligence which caused an infection happened after the daughter-in-law of the Chhattisgarh chief minister was admitted for delivery in the hospital.

The entire second floor of the hospital had to be vacated for the use of the VIP who delivered a baby girl on November 11. She was given a special room and three other rooms were converted into security centres, which were occupied by the nearly 50 police personnel. A section of the 1,200 patients, who were admitted in the hospital at the time, were shifted to the first floor.
Harikrishnan, who was representing Kerala in the national kickboxing championship in Raipur, was admitted in the Dr BRAM Hospital on September 10. The youth collapsed after the final of the 70 kg event. He was soon shifted to the hospital and an emergency surgery was performed on him with the consent of the relatives over phone. According to a relative, he was fast recovering in the ICU and there were no complaints regarding the treatment.
However, after the arrival of the CM’s daughter-in-law the attention and care for the youth reduced and in the process he may have got infected, he alleged. As they lost faith in the treatment, the family requested the hospital authorities to airlift the youth to a super speciality hospital in Vaikom to which the hospital authorities readily agreed. “He was brought to the hospital here on November 15 morning and on the next day morning he passed away, said his coach Ratheesh. The father of the deceased Krishnankutty refused to comment saying that he is not in a position to speak out on the day of the funeral of his son. “I will speak in detail tomorrow,” he said.
Harikrishnan had represented India in the Asian Championship in 2015 and had won bronze. He has also a hat trick of gold in the national championship from 2010-12. Krishnankutty, who works in the election wing of the district collectorate had to spend around Rs 8.5 lakh for airlifting his son. His funeral was held at his residential premises in Kanakkary on Friday.