Siachen braveheart's condition deteriorates further

The condition of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, the Siachen braveheart who defied death for six days buried under snow, has deteriorated further, the Army Research and Referral Hospital said today even as a team of experts from AIIMS joined the military doctors in their bid to save the soldier's life.
He continues to remain extremely critical with evidence of oxygen deprivation to the brain on CT scan, a medical bulletin issued in the evening said.
There is evidence of pneumonia in both lungs. "His multi-organ dysfunction state continues unabated. His condition has deteriorated despite aggressive therapy and supportive care," it added.

Koppad was examined by a team of Army Hospital doctors comprising critical care specialists, HoD Dept of Medicine, senior nephrologist, senior neurologist and a panel of experts from AIIMS, New Delhi.
"The entire team was in agreement with the management (of medical problems) that the patient had undergone till now, and concurred with the future plan of management for him," the Bulletin said.
Hanamanthappa was evacuated by a helicopter yesterday from the site of the avalanche that hit his post on Siachen Glacier before being shifted to Delhi in an IAF aircraft accompanied by a critical care specialist of the force and a medical specialist from the base camp.

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Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today wrote a letter to Hanamanthappa's mother expressing her well wishes and hailing her son's "endurance and will power" to serve the nation.
Expressing grief over the death of Army personnel in Siachen avalanche she said the news about her son's rescue has given a ray of hope.
Hailing the services of defence personnel, Gandhi said she prays for the speedy recovery of Hanamanthappa.
"I join the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa. We salute his endurance and will power to serve the nation," she said in a statement issued separately.

"True to the glorious tradition of our armed forces, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa has fought against the most challenging circumstances that man can ever face. The nation remains indebted to his service," Gandhi said.