A 50-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh (UP), India survived against medical odds after an ambulance ride appeared to have revive her, days after doctors had declared little hope for her recovery.

Vineeta Shukla, a resident of Pilibhit, had been discharged from a hospital in Bareilly after doctors reported no brainstem reflexes. Her family had begun preparing for her funeral. 

On February 24, while her husband was transporting her home, the ambulance hit a pothole on the Bareilly-Haridwar National Highway (NH-74), producing a sudden jolt that appeared to trigger breathing.

“I told my family to prepare for her last rites. She was not breathing, there was only a sinking heartbeat. As the ambulance reached Hafizganj, it struck a large pothole and the vehicle moved violently,” her husband, Kuldeep, told an international media outlet on Tuesday. 

Following the impact, Vineeta began breathing normally. “I immediately informed my family to suspend all the funeral preparations,” Kuldeep said. He rushed her to Neurocity Hospital in Pilibhit for emergency treatment.

After receiving critical care, Vineeta gradually recovered and returned home. She has regained consciousness and is speaking with family members.

“Conquered her death,” Kuldeep said. “She is now not just awake, but talking to us.”

 

Doctors at Neurocity Hospital reviewed her earlier diagnosis before starting treatment. Dr. Rakesh Singh, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, said that he consulted with Bareilly-based doctors and conducted a thorough examination.

Singh noted that Vineeta’s previous assessment indicated severe neurological impairment. Her brainstem reflexes had been absent, and her Glasgow Coma Scale score had dropped to three out of 15, showing complete unresponsiveness. 

“The examination of her eyes showed mydriasis, indicating the death of her brain and constantly sinking signs of life. During a series of quick tests, heavy neurotoxins were detected in her bloodstream and lymphatic system. The diagnosis and treatment helped remarkably in her recovery,” he said.

Family members said Vineeta, who works as a senior assistant in the copy section at the judicial courts in Pilibhit, fainted on February 22 while doing household work. She was initially taken to Autonomous State Medical College in Pilibhit and later referred to a facility in Bareilly, where her condition worsened and doctors had little hope of her survival.