Death of Indian expat student in Dubai, 18: Restaurant staff open up about rescue bid, counselling

Dubai: A month after Vaishnav Krishnakumar, an 18-year-old Indian expat student in Dubai, died of cardiac arrest, restaurant staff at a residential community for students, where he had collapsed, have opened up about their failed attempts to save him.

Speaking to Gulf News, they said they had felt compelled to share their account after learning that misconceptions had circulated about whether any rescue attempts had been made before paramedics transferred him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  

The management of the residential community for students in Dubai International Academy revealed that staff members have undergone counselling as they processed their shock and grief, and they now wish to set the record straight about the life-saving efforts they and emergency services undertook.

“Nobody imagined that he would not survive. The news of his death shocked everyone here. Our staff were shattered when they also got to know that people thought nobody had tried to help the boy,” it said.

What had happened

As first reported by Gulf News, Vaishnav, a first-year BBA Marketing student at Middlesex University and Head of Councils 2024-25 at GEMS Our Own Indian School, had collapsed suddenly on the night of October 21 after dancing during a Diwali celebration. A forensic report issued by Dubai Police had confirmed that he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

The young man had been described as extraordinarily brilliant and an exceptional student with an ambition to become a social entrepreneur and getting a Dubai Metro station named after him.

His sudden death sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many wondering what had transpired in those critical moments following his collapse. It raised questions about the nature of cardiac events in young, seemingly healthy teens. Many including his family members wondered if Vaishnav could have been saved had someone given him CPR immediately.

As reported earlier, Vaishnav, who lived with his family hailing from the south Indian state of Kerala, had joined Diwali celebrations arranged for the students living in the facility.

Through the police report, the family got to know that he had appeared tired and sat down briefly to rest after dancing for a long time.

A short while later, he walked to a restaurant within the same premises adjacent to where the festivities were taking place. He reportedly sat down at the dining area, resting his head and hands on a table and within moments, he collapsed on the floor.

How they tried to revive him

"When the young man collapsed, I immediately went to help while our security team called an ambulance within the first minute of the unfortunate incident," the restaurant manager stated.

"Following the responders' instructions, I placed him on his side and being SIRA certified, I was able to perform CPR until paramedics arrived.”

SIRA or the Security Industry Regulatory Agency is the Dubai government body that regulates and supervises the security industry, including licensing security personnel and companies and ensuring they meet safety and quality standards. 

“Our chef and staff assisted as best as they could and didn't leave him till the ambulance arrived. I spoke with his mother as he was being taken to the hospital. We were deeply saddened to hear he died later,” the manager added.

Coordinated emergency response

The management said the security guard remained on the line throughout the ordeal, providing real-time updates and following every instruction from the dispatcher.

"We are truly heartbroken about what happened that day,” said the chef who also attended to Vaishnav.

“When the young man collapsed, our management team did everything possible to help him. Our restaurant manager immediately rushed to his side and performed CPR. The on-site security staff promptly contacted the ambulance and stayed on the line throughout, following every instruction they were given,” he added.

According to the management, all staff members involved in the response are trained in first aid.

Once the ambulance arrived, the management said, paramedics took charge of the situation, performing CPR and administering oxygen as they tried to stabilise Vaishnav. The ambulance service also coordinated with a doctor, who provided medical advice during the response before they decided to transfer him to the hospital, they said.

Facility's safety infrastructure

The management said the residential community maintains extensive safety measures as standard practice. The facility operates over 950 CCTV cameras across its property with 24-hour monitoring from a dedicated control room.

Two security guards oversee surveillance of various areas from the control room while other security personnel are stationed at different spots to control visitor access and manage emergencies.

The management said first aid boxes are positioned at key locations throughout the facility. The community takes health emergencies seriously, allowing for rapid response to incidents such as fainting or other medical events, it said.

Strengthening safety protocols

However, the recent incident has prompted the students’ accommodation to review and enhance its safety measures. "We are trying to get the ambulance here quicker as well," the management said.

Staff members are undergoing refresher training in first aid certification, and the facility is exploring partnerships with emergency response teams in the area to further reduce response times.

The management had also intensified its focus on supporting staff members affected by the incident, providing counselling to help them process what occurred.

According to the management, it immediately notifies each student's university of any emergency in line with its protocols for such incidents. “Even in this case, universities were informed so they could offer appropriate support to students affected by or present during the incident,” it added.