Air India aircraft crash survivor: 'I am luckiest man alive'

[ad_1] Navtej Johal, BBC Information Midlands correspondent ,

Katie Thompson and

Sophie Woodcock

Viswashkumar Ramesh breaks down in tears as he talks concerning the lack of his brother within the crash

The only real survivor of the Air India aircraft crash, which killed 241 individuals on board, has mentioned he feels just like the "luckiest man" alive, however can be struggling bodily and mentally.

Viswashkumar Ramesh walked away from the wreckage of the London-bound flight in Ahmedabad in extraordinary scenes that amazed the world.

He mentioned it was a "miracle" he escaped however advised how he has misplaced every part, as his youthful brother Ajay was a couple of seats away on the flight and died within the crash in June.

Since returning to his house in Leicester, Mr Ramesh has struggled with post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD), his advisers mentioned, and has been unable to talk to his spouse and four-year-old son.

Flames engulfed the Boeing 787 flight when it went down shortly after take-off in western India.

Surprising video shared on the time confirmed Mr Ramesh strolling away from the aftermath with seemingly superficial accidents, as smoke billowed within the background.

Talking to BBC Information, an emotional Mr Ramesh, whose first language is Gujarati, mentioned: "I am just one survivor. Nonetheless, I am not believing. It is a miracle.

"I misplaced my brother as properly. My brother is my spine. Previous few years, he was at all times supporting me."

He described the devastating affect the ordeal has had on his household life.

"Now I am alone. I simply sit in my room alone, not speaking with my spouse, my son. I identical to to be alone in my home," Mr Ramesh mentioned.

Watch: The second Viswashkumar Ramesh walked away from the crash

He spoke from his hospital mattress in India on the time, describing how he had managed to unbuckle himself and crawl out of the wreckage, and met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whereas receiving remedy for his accidents.

Of the passengers and crew killed, 169 have been Indian nationals and 52 have been Britons, whereas 19 others have been killed on the bottom.

A preliminary report into the crash, revealed by India's Plane Accident Investigation Bureau in July, mentioned gasoline provide to the engines was minimize off simply seconds after take-off. In the meantime, an investigation is ongoing and the airline mentioned take care of Mr Ramesh, and all households affected by the tragedy, "stays our absolute precedence".

That is the primary time the 39-year-old has spoken to the media since he has been again within the UK. A documentary crew have been additionally filming within the room.

The BBC had detailed discussions along with his advisers round his responsibility of care earlier than the interview.

When requested about his recollections of the day of the crash, he mentioned: "I can not say something about that now."

'I am struggling'

Flanked by area people chief Sanjiv Patel and spokesman Radd Seiger, Mr Ramesh mentioned it was too painful to recall the occasions of the catastrophe, and broke down throughout components of an interview on the house of Mr Patel in Leicester.

Mr Ramesh described the anguish he and his household are actually dwelling by.

"For me, after this accident... very tough.

"Bodily, mentally, additionally my household as properly, mentally... my mum final 4 months, she is sitting day-after-day outdoors the door, not speaking, nothing.

"I am not speaking to anybody else. I don't like to speak with anybody else.

"I can not speak about a lot. I am considering all night time, I am struggling mentally.

"Day-after-day is painful for the entire household."

Mr Ramesh additionally spoke concerning the bodily accidents he suffered within the crash, which noticed him escape his seat - 11A - by a gap within the fuselage.

He says he suffers ache in his leg, shoulder, knee and again, and has not been in a position to work or drive because the tragedy.

"After I stroll, not stroll correctly, slowly, slowly, my spouse assist," he added.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2db4/live/6763aba0-b68b-11f0-b027-61021c9d4006.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Sanjiv Patel wearing a blue shirt and sitting on a yellow sofa, with a grey sofa with cushions on in the background" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Sanjiv Patel mentioned he was supporting, advising and defending the household

Mr Ramesh was recognized with PTSD whereas he was being handled in hospital in India however has not obtained any medical remedy since being again house, his advisers mentioned.

They described him as being misplaced and damaged, with an extended journey of restoration forward, and are demanding a gathering with Air India's executives, claiming he has been handled poorly by the airline because the crash.

"They're in disaster, mentally, bodily, financially," Mr Patel mentioned.

"It is devastated his household.

"Whoever's accountable on the highest degree needs to be on the bottom assembly the victims of this tragic occasion, and understanding their wants and to be heard."

'Put issues proper'

Air India has supplied an interim compensation cost to Mr Ramesh of £21,500, which has been accepted, however his advisers say this isn't sufficient to fulfill his instant wants.

The household fishing enterprise in Diu in India, which Mr Ramesh ran along with his brother earlier than the crash, has since collasped, his advisers mentioned.

Spokesman for the household Mr Seiger mentioned that they had invited Air India for a gathering on three events, and all three have been both "ignored or turned down".

The media interviews have been the crew's manner of reissuing that attraction for the fourth time, he mentioned.

Mr Seiger added: "It is appalling that we're having to sit down right here at this time and placing him [Viswashkumar] by this.

"The individuals who needs to be sitting right here at this time are the executives of Air India, the individuals liable for making an attempt to place issues proper.

"Please come and sit down with us in order that we will work by this collectively to attempt to alleviate a few of this struggling."

In an announcement, the airline, which is owned by Tata Group, mentioned senior leaders from the mother or father firm proceed to go to households to specific their deepest condolences.

"A suggestion has been made to Mr Ramesh's representatives to rearrange such a gathering, we'll proceed to succeed in out and we very a lot hope to obtain a optimistic response," it mentioned.