<p>For ambulance driver, Devaraju S R, it was the greatest 47 minutes of his life. At the end of this gripping, tense, unprecedented drive with a human heart from BGS Hospital to Kempegowda International Airport, he was a relieved yet proud man. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Even before he took over the wheels, the enormity of the task had overwhelmed him. “My heartbeats rose when I was told I would be driving the ambulance carrying a human heart meant for transplantation in Chennai. I just prayed to God and summoned all my energy. Eventually, my prayers and effort didn’t fail me,” Devaraju later told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />The experience was unforgettable, something beyond words for Devaraju, who had joined BGS Hospital only an year ago. A native of Kunigal and a resident of M A Pura in Kengeri, Devaraju had no clue when the hospital management first told him to be ready to head to KIA. It was 12 noon on Wednesday. <br /><br />He was on day shift. “I thought that it could be another patient to be driven off, either for a drop or a pick up which I had done so many times in the past. An hour later, the shift incharge Muniraju explained the real objective: To drive an ambulance with a human heart, to be flown to Chennai for transplantation.”<br /><br />It was a task he couldn’t refuse. He had to be fast, negotiating the traffic bottlenecks ahead. “I had confidence in my ability. Yes, there was some apprehension since, for the first time, I was carrying a human heart and I had to drive very fast. I had to be careful about potential accidents. But I decided to accept all that as I was going to be part of an unforgettable endeavour to save a life," he recalled. <br /><br />At 2.10 pm, he hit the road. “With every passing signal and junction, my heart leapt. I told myself to be calm and controlled my senses. My focus was getting to the airport and quickly. Probabaly I would not have worried so much had it been a patient or any other organ,” said Devaraju. <br /><br />He thanked the traffic policemen en route, whose “brilliant” coordination eased his drive. “I could reach the destination safely purely because of their cooperation. Finally, when I reached KIA and parked the ambulance, it was 2.57 pm. It had taken me just 47 minutes,” he said, still in disbelief. <br /><br />The driver thanked his stars for being on day shift. For, he could have missed the rare opportunity. “Those were truly unforgettable moments which I will cherish till my last breath,” he gushed. Devaraju had discontinued education after SSLC and moved to Bangalore seven years ago. </p>
<p>For ambulance driver, Devaraju S R, it was the greatest 47 minutes of his life. At the end of this gripping, tense, unprecedented drive with a human heart from BGS Hospital to Kempegowda International Airport, he was a relieved yet proud man. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Even before he took over the wheels, the enormity of the task had overwhelmed him. “My heartbeats rose when I was told I would be driving the ambulance carrying a human heart meant for transplantation in Chennai. I just prayed to God and summoned all my energy. Eventually, my prayers and effort didn’t fail me,” Devaraju later told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />The experience was unforgettable, something beyond words for Devaraju, who had joined BGS Hospital only an year ago. A native of Kunigal and a resident of M A Pura in Kengeri, Devaraju had no clue when the hospital management first told him to be ready to head to KIA. It was 12 noon on Wednesday. <br /><br />He was on day shift. “I thought that it could be another patient to be driven off, either for a drop or a pick up which I had done so many times in the past. An hour later, the shift incharge Muniraju explained the real objective: To drive an ambulance with a human heart, to be flown to Chennai for transplantation.”<br /><br />It was a task he couldn’t refuse. He had to be fast, negotiating the traffic bottlenecks ahead. “I had confidence in my ability. Yes, there was some apprehension since, for the first time, I was carrying a human heart and I had to drive very fast. I had to be careful about potential accidents. But I decided to accept all that as I was going to be part of an unforgettable endeavour to save a life," he recalled. <br /><br />At 2.10 pm, he hit the road. “With every passing signal and junction, my heart leapt. I told myself to be calm and controlled my senses. My focus was getting to the airport and quickly. Probabaly I would not have worried so much had it been a patient or any other organ,” said Devaraju. <br /><br />He thanked the traffic policemen en route, whose “brilliant” coordination eased his drive. “I could reach the destination safely purely because of their cooperation. Finally, when I reached KIA and parked the ambulance, it was 2.57 pm. It had taken me just 47 minutes,” he said, still in disbelief. <br /><br />The driver thanked his stars for being on day shift. For, he could have missed the rare opportunity. “Those were truly unforgettable moments which I will cherish till my last breath,” he gushed. Devaraju had discontinued education after SSLC and moved to Bangalore seven years ago. </p>
