An Indian Army soldier on his way back to duty turned saviour on a moving train, reviving an eight-month-old baby who had stopped breathing. His quick medical response and calm under pressure drew praise from railway passengers and defence officials alike.
An eight-month-old baby travelling with family on the New Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express suffered sudden respiratory distress and became unresponsive earlier this week. The child’s mother fainted in shock while other passengers raised an alarm. In the same coach was Sepoy Sunil, an ambulance assistant from the Army’s 456 Field Hospital in the northeast, returning from leave. Recognising the emergency, he rushed to help the infant without hesitation.
Upon checking, Sunil found that the baby had no pulse and was not breathing. Without any medical equipment on board, he immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using two-finger chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. After two intense cycles, the infant began to respond and regained breathing, drawing tears and applause from passengers.
Indian Army lauds Sepoy Sunil's timely act
According to a Defence spokesperson, Sepoy Sunil’s “timely and professional action prevented a fatality in a situation where no immediate medical support was available.” He coordinated with train staff and railway police to arrange medical assistance at Rangiya station in Assam, where the child received further treatment. "His timely and professional action prevented a fatality in a situation where no immediate medical support was available," the Defence official said in a statement.
"Sunil immediately initiated paediatric cardio-pulmonary resuscitation using two fingers on the chest and gave mouth-to-mouth breathing to the child, and after about two cycles of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), the baby showed signs of life," the official added, according to a PTI report.
Officials said the soldier’s composure and commitment to duty exemplify the best of the Indian Army’s values of service and humanity. The baby was later declared stable.
Defence authorities added that the incident is a reminder of how life-saving training and presence of mind can make all the difference, even in the most unlikely places.