Nagpur: A 23-year-old pharmacy student from Hudkeshwar collapsed in a gym mid-workout following a massive brain stroke that left him in a deep coma with slim chances of survival on April 8. In a striking recovery that surprised his doctors, he was back on his feet and discharged within just 12 days on Tuesday.Om Bhoyar, a BPharm student and fitness enthusiast with no prior medical history, suddenly collapsed while exercising. He was rushed to a private hospital in Dhantoli, where an initial assessment revealed a severe stroke. Doctors said his condition was critical, with very low expectations of survival.According to treating interventional radiologist Dr Sachin Dhomne, Bhoyar was experiencing headache and vomited once or twice two days prior to the incident — symptoms that are often overlooked, especially by young individuals. An MRI confirmed an acute ischaemic stroke caused by a clot blocking blood flow to the brain. An emergency endovascular mechanical thrombectomy was performed to remove the clot.The minimally invasive procedure involved accessing blocked artery through a small puncture in the groin and extracting the clot using specialised devices, restoring blood flow to brain. “Timely intervention can reverse stroke damage,” Dr Dhomne said.Following the procedure, Bhoyar showed remarkable improvement. He was gradually taken off ventilator support, regained neurological function, and within days was able to walk independently. Senior cardiologist Dr Aziz Khan, who was part of the treating team, said Bhoyar had no substance addictions, diabetes or hypertension. The case was unusual due to the patient’s young age, lack of underlying conditions, and the possible trigger of intense physical exertion, he said.
