Address hotel firefighter expected to make ‘full recovery’

An Emirati firefighter, battling respiratory failure, is out of the intensive care unit and is expected to make a full recovery, his doctor has said.

Fireman Hasan Al Balooshi, after coming round from an induced coma, says he had no idea he was ill. Reem Mohammed / The National

DUBAI // An Emirati firefighter who had been battling respiratory failure is out of the intensive care unit and expected to make a full recovery, his doctor said.

Hasan Al Balooshi, 29, who was one of the many firefighters who fought the New Year’s Eve fire at The Address Downtown hotel, is showing solid signs of improvement after regaining consciousness after being sedated for 18 days.

“He opened his eyes wide in shock when we told him that he had been in a deep state of unconsciousness for 18 days. He had no idea,” said Hasan’s older brother, Ali.

Ali and his siblings maintained a bedside vigil for their brother, whose severe respiratory failure was caused by viral pneumonia that he is thought to have acquired before the New Year’s Eve blaze.

The infection was aggravated by smoke inhalation.

The firefighter was one of the early responders and worked for four days at the site in the aftermath of the fire.

“I had no idea that I was already sick when I was helping out with the efforts, but you never think of yourself in such situations. I felt fine. I was doing my job,” Mr Al Balooshi said.

He also said that he did not see himself as a hero because he was only one of many on that day who had worked hard.

“There were over 200 firefighters from all over the country, alongside other supporting units that came together.

“I’m so happy that we did our job well and that no one died in the fire,” said Mr Al Balooshi, who has been a firefighter for almost nine years.

He had been relying on a feeding tube and a ventilator at Mediclinic City Hospital to aid his recovery.

“The first thing he ate in weeks was a piece of Oreo. He’ll never forget that taste” his brother said, laughing. “We take life for granted sometimes.”

Mr Al Balooshi is the sixth of 18 siblings and is the most dependable one, to the extent that everyone relies on him, according to his brother.

“If you want something done, you ask Hasan. He has a generous soul and it’s evident in everything he does and his line of work. He loves to help,” Ali said.

“Coming close to losing him was difficult. Seeing him cough blood and sedated for that long not knowing if he’d get better was a terrifying thought for us. But he’s a fighter. He’s been there for us and everyone was by his side in return.”

The outpouring of love and support that Mr Al Balooshi received evoked feelings of gratitude. The family were touched by all the acts of kindness from friends, people online and the authorities.

Everything was taken care of, including his hefty medical bill.

“His medical bill for the past two weeks was over Dh200,000 and I was surprised to know that someone has foot the bill”.

Ali Al Balooshi has no idea who covered all brother’s medical expenses but said that officers from the Civil Defence, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed’s office and the Crown Prince of Dubai Court all offered support. They even offered to send him abroad to get treated, but that was not necessary, his doctor said.

Dr Asad Abdullah, consultant intensivist at Mediclinic City Hospital said that he expected Mr Al Balooshi to make a full recovery.

“I noticed he was responsive to the treatment from the beginning so I was confident of his ability to pull through. We treated the infection with antibiotics and did not allow the respiratory failure to affect other organs. He is lucky to have come to the hospital in time for us to help him,” the doctor said.

“Obviously he still has some work to do with physical therapy to remediate impairment and mobility from the period of sedation, but I don’t see a reason why he wouldn’t be able to make a full recovery,” the doctor said.

Mr Al Balooshi is keen on rejoining his fire brigade sometime in the near future but the doctor recommendd that he stay away from any aggravating factors for a long period for his lungs to optimally heal.

“For two weeks he wasn’t able to breathe at all. He should take it one step at a time,” Dr Abdullah said.