The last seriously injured survivor of the Phu Quoc boat capsize is ready to be discharged from hospital and return to India, doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said on July 25.
Tran Thanh Linh, a doctor at the hospital, said the patient had made a near full recovery after 12 days of specialised treatment following his transfer from Phu Quoc.
The last patient from the Phu Quoc speedboat capsize has made a full recovery (Photo: Hospital).
Members of the medical team said the middle-aged man can now walk short distances unaided, eat independently and carry out daily activities without assistance. His heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs have stabilised.
Doctors said he is fit to travel on a commercial flight to India, where he will continue long-term follow-up care at a local medical facility.
To ensure the patient's safety during the journey, Cho Ray Hospital will assign one of its doctors to accompany him throughout the flight.
The patient said he could hardly believe his recovery and expressed his gratitude to the hospital's medical staff for their treatment and care.
The patient is expected to return to India soon on a commercial flight under a doctor's supervision (Photo: Hospital).
On July 21, Tran Minh Khoa, chairman of the Phu Quoc Special Zone People's Committee, visited the patient at Cho Ray Hospital, presented a gift and pledged that local authorities would cover all of his medical expenses during his hospital stay.
The tourist boat accident occurred on the afternoon of July 11. The vessel, carrying 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and one Vietnamese tour guide, capsized while travelling from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port on Phu Quoc Island in An Giang Province.
The accident claimed the lives of 15 tourists.
Among the survivors, the 54-year-old man was admitted to hospital in a coma with dangerously low blood pressure. Doctors diagnosed respiratory failure, severe lung damage caused by near-drowning that led to acute pneumonia and septic shock, multiple traumatic injuries and several fractured ribs.
In addition to his traumatic injuries, the patient had a history of diabetes and suffered an acute heart attack. He was transferred from Phu Quoc to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on July 13 for advanced treatment.
Alongside the medical treatment, the owner of the vessel involved in the accident has pledged financial assistance of USD 1,000 to the family of each victim who died and USD 500 to each injured survivor receiving treatment.
Authorities in An Giang Province have also announced compensation for the victims' families, including USD 1,000 for each fatality, in addition to VND 5 million (USD 191) from the province's emergency assistance fund.
