"Every day is painful for the whole family.”
The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 241 people has said he feels like the “luckiest man” alive, but is enduring immense physical and emotional pain.
Viswashkumar Ramesh walked away from the wreckage of the London-bound Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad.
He described his escape as a “miracle” but said the tragedy had destroyed his life, as his younger brother Ajay, who was sitting only a few seats away, died in the crash.
Since returning to Leicester, Mr Ramesh has been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, his advisers said. He has found it difficult to talk to his wife and four-year-old son.
Flames engulfed the plane shortly after take-off in western India. Video from the crash site showed Mr Ramesh walking away from the wreckage with visible injuries as thick smoke filled the sky.
Mr Ramesh told BBC News: “I’m only one survivor. Still, I’m not believing. It’s a miracle.
“I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone. Last few years, he was always supporting me.”
He described how the tragedy had isolated him from his family:
“Now I’m alone. I just sit in my room alone, not talking with my wife, my son. I just like to be alone in my house.”
After the crash, he explained how he had unbuckled himself and crawled through the fuselage. He later met Prime Minister Narendra Modi while being treated for his injuries.
Of the 241 people killed, 169 were Indian nationals and 52 were Britons. Nineteen others died on the ground.
A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that fuel supply to the engines was cut off seconds after take-off. The investigation is ongoing.
Air India said care for Mr Ramesh and all families affected “remains our absolute priority”.
Mr Ramesh admitted: “For me, after this accident… very difficult.
“Physically, mentally, also my family as well, mentally… my mum last four months, she is sitting every day outside the door, not talking, nothing.
“I’m not talking to anyone else. I do not like to talk with anyone else.
“I can’t talk about much. I’m thinking all night, I’m suffering mentally.
“Every day is painful for the whole family.”
Mr Ramesh also spoke about the physical pain he continues to live with after escaping through an opening in the fuselage from seat 11A.
He said he suffers from leg, shoulder, knee, and back pain and has been unable to work or drive.
“When I walk, not walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife help.”
He was diagnosed with PTSD in India but has not received medical care since returning to the UK, his advisers said.
They described him as “lost and broken”, with a long road to recovery ahead. They are now calling on Air India executives to meet him, claiming he has been treated unfairly since the crash.
Local community leader Sanjiv Patel said:
“They’re in crisis, mentally, physically, financially. It’s devastated his family.”
“Whoever’s responsible at the highest level should be on the ground meeting the victims of this tragic event, and understanding their needs and to be heard.”
Air India offered interim compensation of £21,500, which Mr Ramesh accepted, but his advisers said it was not enough to meet his immediate needs.
His family’s fishing business in Diu, India, which he ran with his brother, has since collapsed.
Spokesman Radd Seiger said the family had invited Air India to meet three times, but all requests were “ignored or turned down”.
He said the decision to speak to the media was an attempt to make the appeal again.
Mr Seiger said: “It’s appalling that we are having to sit here today and putting him [Viswashkumar] through this.
“The people who should be sitting here today are the executives of Air India, the people responsible for trying to put things right.
“Please come and sit down with us so that we can work through this together to try and alleviate some of this suffering.”
Air India said senior leaders continue to meet families to express their condolences
“An offer has been made to Mr Ramesh’s representatives to arrange such a meeting, we will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response.”
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