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वीरहरुका पनि वीर महाबिर भिसी बिजेता पुन बेलायतमा सिकिस्त
Bravest of the Brave Tulbahadur Pun Magar, VC Hospitalized

-Dr. Chandrabahadur Gurung

Reporting from Hospital, UK
August 8, 2008-

On Friday 1st August at 11 am in the morning, Tulbahadur Pun VC suddenly started breathing heavily and his health condition became compromised. His breathing was labored and he was close to collapse. He was sitting on his chair at the entrance of the garden of his rented flat in Martindale Rd, Hounslow, UK. His body was shivering. When I saw him in this condition I immediately call Padam Gurung (GAESO President) who immediately came downstairs (He lives in the same building, looking after the VC winner). While he was holding VC baba, I started dialing 999 and requested an ambulance. The operator asked a few questions and informed me that she was sending an ambulance right away.

One car and the ambulance arrived within seven minutes and stopped in front of the VC’s house. Two nurses and two paramedics provided emergency assistance to VC Pun. They did their best to stabilize his breathing. In the meantime, Mr JB Limbu and Mrs Punisara (wife of VC Pun) arrived, having attended the GP earlier that morning.

On Thursday 31 July, VC Pun was suffering from constipation and pain in his stomach. He had been taken to the GP on Thursday, and the doctor prescribed some medicine but unfortunately it did not help. Because of his severe stomach pain, he firmly refused to take the medicines.

For approximately 15 minutes the ambulance teams gave VC Pun assistance in breathing through a mask, assisting his failing respiration. They were very busy saving his life. After a preliminary examination VC Pun was taken into the ambulance where the emergency medical team spent more than half hour giving medical assistance to VC Pun. JB and I boarded the ambulance with Pun VC to go to the West Middlesex Hospital.

There were three doctors and two nurses attending the emergency ward. They gave a variety of medical treatment to save VC Pun's life. All emergency life saving machines were directly connected to his body. The instruments were showing his vital signs. A respirator was giving excellent results and supporting VC Pun’s breathing. The senior physician let me know, he was unable to forecast what would happen next. He asked that VC Pun’s next of kin be notified to visit him in the hospital.

After two hours the doctors were stabilizing his breathing. Rag Purja had joined to assist the Pun family. At about 5 pm we saw VC Pun’s condition improve and he was quite normal and sleeping comfortably. Later he was transferred from the “Richmond Ward” (medical assessment unit) to third floor of the hospital building. On late Saturday evening VC Pun’s condition improved even more and he started talking with visitors.

Condition Before Collapse

On Friday morning, I was in VC Pun’s house in Hounslow. It was nearly 9 O’clock in the morning and he was sitting in his bedroom. The sun’s rays were beaming into the VC’s room. He was not feeling well. First he told me that he was very upset at the treatment of his family by the British Embassy in Kathmandu. The embassy had just refused visas for VC Pun’s son and daughter to come to visit him in the UK and to attend the bi-annual Victoria Cross and George Cross Association meeting in September 2008 (the meeting would be headed by Prince Charles). VC Pun was very worried about the visa problem. He told me that he intended to go Nepal and would like to spend the rest of his life in his village. He asked why the visa section of British Embassy moved from Kathmandu to New Delhi. He was extremely upset at this event. He angrily called it a great insult to the Gurkhas.

In the morning Mrs Punisara was due to depart for GP (doctor’s) appointment. She insisted that I feed VC Pun in her absence. It was around 10 O’clock in the morning, and I fed VC Pun pulses, rice and vegetables. He ate some food, but he was not feeling well and was very uncomfortable with accelerated breathing. After a while, he went outside, where Padam Gurung provided him with a chair by the garden wall. After 15 minutes he collapsed. I was the first man who witnessed this scene and immediately asked to Padam Gurung to come down and hold VC Pun. While I was still holding VC Pun I called for the ambulance.

VC Pun's Present Condition

Unfortunately on Monday 4th August at 9 am, VC Pun’s condition deteriorated rapidly. His respiration mask was adjusted too tightly. He was struggling to breathe, as the doctors were attempting to clear fluid from his lungs. They wanted to ensure that VC Pun did not have to go on a ventilator, as that could pose risks such an old and sick man. The procedure to clear the lungs of fluid is very uncomfortable, even though it is a lifesaving process. Due to the discomfort of the pressurized oxygen, VC Pun forcibly broke the mask and disconnected the tubes. He even tried to disconnect all the life supporting devices, as he was not comfortable. But again, at about 11 am, VC Pun began to speak. As he returned to a normal position he began to narrate the story which he just dreamt. He said he dreamed he was travelling to his village in Nepal, and meeting with his people.

Now VC Pun’s condition is critical and his condition fluctuates. Therefore, it is impossible to predict whether he will recover. On 4th August at 3 pm VC Pun’s lawyers Martin Howe, Kieran O’Rourke and David Enright went to the hospital and discussed his health situation with the doctors.

On Wednesday evening the hospital phoned asking for two responsible persons to appear there next day at 9 am morning. The purpose was to give a report of the overall health condition of VC Pun. In the morning Padam and I reached the hospital. The ward doctor informed us that the overall health condition of VC Pun was improving, but even in this situation it was not possible to forecast what would happen next. They were removing the life saving devices that day to give him the opportunity to breathe without the life support instruments. When it was disconnected it was revealed that his condition was better than before. Mr George Duncan, a former pilot and presently a member of the International Pilot Association informed to us that he was arranging prayer all over Thailand at Buddhist Monasteries for his recovery. We spoke with VC Pun and told him that the Thai Buddhist monks were arranging a prayer service at all the Buddhist shrines in Thailand. We also gave him the message that his son Arjun and daughter Lisa were granted visas by British Embassy in India. He responded to our messages by folding both hands.

VC Pun is now staying at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Twickenham Road, ISLEWORTH, Middlesex, TW7 6AP. UK.

Dr. Gurung is the Advisor of GAESO and Editor of Gurkha Sainik Aawaj.

VC House, 12A Martindale Road
Hounslow, TW4 7EP. UK
e-mail: cbgurung10@hotmail.com
Tel. 020 8570 2145 (from Nepal: 00 44 208 570 2145)

VC Pun. Photo: eEyeCam

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