Mumbai Marathon: Two men who suffered heart attacks still critical

A day after the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, the two people who suffered from a cardiac arrest during Sunday's event continue to battle for their lives in the ICU of Bombay Hospital.

While 37-year-old investment banker, Amit Kasat, had suffered a severe cardiac arrest barely a kilometre before the finish line of the half-marathon (21 km) in the morning, the other patient is a photographer who was covering the event. Doctors say the strain of keeping pace with the runners to click pictures took a toll on 38-year-old lensman Ashok Kowale.

Banker Amit Kasat (circled) after completing an earlier marathon

As of now, both of them are on ventilator support and are in a very critical condition. Meanwhile, another runner Atul Singh (40) who participated in the half marathon is also undergoing treatment in the ICU for severe dehydration, but his condition is stable as of now. Dr BK Goyal, head of the cardiology department at the hospital, said, "Singh is better now after treatment, but Kasat and the photographer's condition is very serious. We are trying our best to improve their condition, but they both suffered severe cardiac arrests. At the time of their admissions, we had to resuscitate them with electronic DC shocks."

"Their kidney function is also compromised due to dehydration and constant support is required to regulate their blood pressure. Our fingers are crossed and we can only hope they make it," added Dr Goyal. He further said that Singh's kidney function was also distressed but following treatment, his condition is stable. Kasat, who works as an executive with Standard Chartered Bank, is a fitness freak and ran at least 10 km regularly, his relatives said. Despite this, he had a cardiac arrest due to which his heart stopped beating for 20 minutes after he collapsed at Ambassador Hotel in Marine Drive around 8.30 am.

"It is essential that proper medical check-ups should be conducted before the marathon to rule out any health issues in the participants. Over the years, I have observed that young patients like these participants, always showed normal results during the stress tests as well as the ECG. However, only after the coronary angiography was conducted, was it revealed that the supposedly healthy patients had a problem in the coronary artery," explained Dr Goyal. He emphasised that had both the patients undergone a coronary angiography, they might not have suffered from a cardiac arrest though they were young, fit individuals.