Dad given hours to live after pub roast dinner leaves him fighting for life

Dad given hours to live after pub roast dinner leaves him fighting for life Udhyam's family were told he was the sickest patient in the hospital before he spent two weeks in a coma and began a long recovery that included learning how to walk again A dad-of-three was given just hours to live after falling critically ill following a roast chicken dinner at his local pub. Udhyam Amin, 64, was rushed to hospital with suspected food poisoning after becoming unwell following the meal in February. Doctors later discovered he had contracted Campylobacter, a common cause of food poisoning, before his condition spiralled into sepsis and multi-organ failure. Udhyam, from Kingswood, Surrey, was still conscious and talking to relatives when he arrived at St Helier Hospital in Sutton, South London, despite complaining of severe stomach pain. But his blood pH had dropped to dangerously low levels and he was quickly taken into a resuscitation room. His condition then deteriorated rapidly and he suffered a cardiac arrest before being transferred to intensive care and placed on a ventilator. His family were warned he was the sickest patient in the hospital, he might not survive the journey to intensive care and could have hours to live. Udhyam’s daughter, Parisha Bains, 33, recalled: “It felt like our world had fallen apart. Nothing prepares you for hearing that the person you love may not make it through the day. We were told he had gone into sepsis and multi-organ failure. Most of his critical organs had shut down. “It’s nothing short of a miracle that he is still with us. We laugh and joke that he’s like a cat with nine lives.” As his loved ones prepared for the worst, staff at St Helier worked through the night to keep him alive. Parisha, a surgical registrar at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “They comforted us through endless uncertainty, answered every question with kindness, celebrated every tiny improvement with us and gave us hope when hope seemed impossible to find. “But he made it through the night and that wasn’t expected. One of the first things he asked us when he woke up was what date it was because he had to submit his tax returns!” Udhyam spent two weeks in an induced coma before beginning a long recovery. The former sub-postmaster turned businessman had to learn to walk again, speak clearly and slowly rebuild the strength he had lost. He has since returned home to his family and is back working seven days a week. Udhyam said: “Words cannot express my gratitude for the exceptional care, compassion and dedication the medical teams showed me during the most difficult time of my life. “Their skill and commitment saved my life, and I will be forever grateful. I cannot thank them enough for giving me a second chance.” Staff nurse Pooja Rani, who was part of Udhyam’s care team, said: “Udhyam was one of the sickest patients we cared for at that time, so seeing him make such a remarkable recovery and return home to his family is exactly why we do what we do. “It was a privilege to be part of his journey, and we’re all delighted to see him back enjoying life again.” Udhyam and his family have now launched a fundraiser for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity in support of the intensive care unit which treated him. More than £37,000 has already been raised, with the family hoping the money will help other critically ill patients and support relatives going through similarly difficult stays in hospital. Molly Simpson, head of charity and fundraising at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, said: “Udhyam’s story is both remarkable and inspiring. We are enormously thankful to Udhyam’s family for turning their gratitude into action by raising funds to support St Helier.”