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MANGALURU: They drive fast, but without breaking the rules. They think on their feet, and are more often than not responsible for saving a life. Ambulance drivers are often known to play the Good Samaritan.

 Driver Seetharam, 30, of GVK EMRI - 108 Service saved a bleeding patient on February 12. The victim, Ravi, 35, from Belur, suffered grievous injuries all over his body, and his palm was severly injured when he tried to blast a dynamite to kill fish at Kempuholey river.

 At, 6.43pm, GVK was called. Seetharam’s quick driving skills enabled them to reach the spot on time. They managed to save Ravi’s life.

 In yet another case, one life was lost although the ambulance driver Abdul Jaleel of Mangala Hospital tried his best to save him. On February 24, two 20-year-old students Joel Stephen Sequeira and pillion Sandeep Holla were on a two-wheeler. The duo rammed into Manohar, who was on a moped at Maddadka near Belthangady. Manohar died on the spot, while Holla sustained grievous injuries. Although Joel suffered internal perforations, abdomen rupture and broken ribs, there were no external injuries to indicate anything, barring a small cut on his hand.

 Recollecting the incident, Jaleel said he drove 65k in 45 minutes to save the victims. "I received a call at 12.15am, and within five minutes, I was at the spot. Although there was a large crowd, nobody helped me put the injured into the ambulance. On the way, I informed Mangala authorities that one of them was bleeding on face and neck. They sent a mobile ICU and a doctor. I shifted the injured into the mobile ICU at BC Road and took Joel to Mangaluru. When we neared the hospital, Joel got a call on his cellphone, and he told his mother that he was not in a condition to speak and that he had difficulty in breathing. I sensed that something was wrong, and doctors too said his condition seemed serious. They were right. Joel passed away early morning. Had Joel given some clue about his plight, he could have been saved. Holla has been recovering and has been shifted out of the ICU on Friday," he said.

 Avinash, operations in-charge, Mangala Hospital and Mangala Kidney Foundation, stated that eight of their ambulances have been stationed at Nelyadi, Uppinangady, Ujire, Kakkinje, Charmadi Ghat. "In a month, we get 15-20 cases from Gundya, Charmadi, Kallugundi and Chervattur. All the shops on the route have the phone numbers of the ambulance drivers. Victims are first taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. If they need advanced treatment, they are brought to Mangaluru," said Avinash.