10 years after transplant, Mathew Achadan dies as replaced heart stops

THRISSUR: Mathew Achadan (57) of Pariyaram in Chalakudy, who made headlines 10 years ago after undergoing a heart transplant, passed away on Monday. Heart attack is the cause of death. Achadan received the heart of Neelakanda Sarma of Thiruvananthapuram on July 24 in 2015. The heart was airlifted to Kochi in navy’s helicopter then. Achadan was an auto driver and a porter.

The heart was transplanted when he was 47. Advocate Neelakanta Sarma of Parassala, who was undergoing treatment at the Sree Chithira Thirunal Medical Center in Thiruvananthapuram, was declared brain dead on July 24, 2015. An examination proved that Sharma's heart would suit Achadan, who was undergoing treatment at the Lisie Hospital in Ernakulam for a heart transplant.

The doctors said the heart should be transported to Kochi, 210 km from Thiruvananthapuram, within five hours and surgery be completed. Taking the heart by road was not practical. It was later discussed to take it by air. The information was conveyed to the then chief minister Oommen Chandy. He intervened and arranged for an Air Force’ air ambulance from Kochi. The files for this were completed and the order was issued at midnight.

The ambulance, led by renowned cardiac yoga expert Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram, left from Kochi and reached Thiruvananthapuram. After the surgery, it landed in Kochi at 7 pm with the heart. It took only 13 minutes to cover the 12 km distance from the naval base to the hospital. The surgery, which began at 7.45 pm, took seven hours to complete.