KOCHI: Popular screenwriter John Paul passed away last Saturday, leaving behind immortal stories and characters. He had been undergoing hospital treatment for about three months due to stomach ailments and respiratory problems. The funeral services were held with official honours at a cathedral in Kochi. Meanwhile, actor Kailash has shared about a tragic incident in John Paul’s life, which took place last January. Paul sir, who fell down from his bed, had to lay on the floor for about five hours, Kailash said.

Kailash had just reached Ernakulam after shooting. At the time, Jolly Joseph rang me up and told me that John Paul sir had called asking me to go to his house immediately, said Kailash. There were some people with me. When I reached there, I saw sir lying on the floor. He had weighed around 160 kilograms. He was unable to get up on his own.

It was a time when we were in dire need of technical support to lift him up. Moreover, he felt pain while we tried to hold his legs and hands. We tried to keep him warm using bedsheets and pillows. In the meantime, we sought help from ambulance and fire force services.

However, ambulance authorities said that they could offer only services to shift him to a hospital. If we had a stretcher, we could have lift him up and lay him on the bed enabling him to get up. When we sought the help of the fire force, they asked us to contact an ambulance. I suppose both services were not allowed to intervene in such matters, he said.

We had reached his home by around 10 pm. When all attempts failed, we called the police at twelve o'clock and then two policemen arrived. At last, we got an ambulance after waiting for a long time at the medical centre near bypass. Then, after much efforts, John Paul sir was placed on a stretcher and then transferred to his bed. It was around 2 am. He had been lying on the floor for about five hours. He was not wearing any shirt at the time.

The next day, sir told me that it would be better if those who were experiencing such a situation had an opportunity to call a specific system that could offer them help. If the government pays attention to such matters, then it would be helpful for those going through similar situations, said Kailash.