35-year-old loses battle with 11/7 injuries

After being in a semiconscious state for nine years at PD Hinduja hospital, Parag Sawant (35), a Bhayander resident who was grievously injured in the 11/7 serial train blasts, died on Tuesday morning.

Doctors said he died of cardio-respiratory arrest. Dr BK Misra, his neurosurgeon at the hospital, said, "Early this morning, at 5.30am, the staff nurse checked on Parag, his condition was stable then. At 6am, his saturation levels had dropped and he was put on oxygen to stabilise his breathing. But he had a sudden respiratory arrest for which the CPR team conducted all the resuscitation measures. In spite of that, Parag could not be revived and was declared dead at 6.54am on July 7. He died because of a cardio-respiratory arrest; the most likely possibility of immediate deterioration could be pulmonary embolism."

Sawant was admitted to the hospital on July 12, 2006, with severe head injuries. He was in coma for about two years and then his condition gradually improved, with him being in a semiconscious state, where he would understand simple commands. He underwent multiple operations and then was on supportive care and physiotherapy for a few years.

According to doctors, his mother Madhuri was with him at the time of death. He was taken to Sion hospital for post-mortem. Parag is survived by his parents, wife Preeti and daughter Prachiti, who is in Std IV. Parag will be cremated on Wednesday morning after his younger brother, who works in Bombay High, returns.

With Parag's death, the 11/7 tragedy toll is now 189.