A cop with a difference, that’s the closest one can get to describing Sujata Patil. A Mumbai police inspector of Matunga Traffic Division, the 40-year-old has been in the headlines recently for more reasons than one.
In January, the cop sparked outrage for writing a controversial poem in the police force’s monthly newsletter Samvaad. The poem called for punishing the rioters of Azad Maidan who molested female cops and destroyed the Amar Jawan memorial in Mumbai. While many supported her, she also drew criticism and was forced to apologise. A few months later, she made news again for jumping into a ravine to rescue a young biker who had fallen into it.
On Friday, when the news of former India cricketer Vinod Kambli being admitted for a heart attack spread like wildfire, it came as no surprise that the one who came to his rescue was none other than Patil.
“The incident took place at 9.30am on the Eastern Express highway, near Highway Apartments. Kambli was driving from Chembur to Bandra and suddenly stopped his car (a white Mitsubishi Pajero) near Somaiya grounds in Sion and asked a constable nearby for help,” Patil told TNIE.
“The constable informed me as I was on patrol duty. I alerted the traffic control room to clear the roads as it was peak hours. We called for an ambulance from Bandra but the traffic was such that it would have been difficult for it to reach on time and it is not easy to take a U-turn on that road,” she said.
Patil wasted no time in reaching the spot. “When I reached, he was complaining of severe chest pain and stomach ache. His eyes were rolling, he was pleading to be taken to the hospital and cried for help. His condition was deteriorating and we didn’t want anything untoward to happen. So we didn’t wait for the ambulance and took him to Lilavati hospital in his car itself,” she added.
“All through, till the time we reached, he was catching hold of the constable’s hand and crying in pain, tremendous pain. He was taken to the ICU and the necessary treatment was given. Even in that state, he continued to mumble thanks to us for saving his life,” Patil added.
She then informed Kambli’s wife Andrea, who reached the hospital soon after. “His wife was alone and crying and praying for his speedy recovery. I tried my best to console her and told her not to worry as we were all there with her. I stayed at the hospital till 2.30pm till the doctors confirmed that his condition was stable. I just did my duty and hope he recovers soon,” Patil said.
Also Read: Kambli Suffers Heart Attack, Hospitalised
[Watch Video: Kambli Suffers Heart Attack]