Tragedy of the Air India crash survivor: Brit who walked away from catastrophe continues to be unable to talk to his spouse and son and divulges how he has been affected

The British man who lived through the deadly Air India crash has revealed why he is still unable to speak to his family and how the incident has affected his life. 

Viswashkumar Ramesh, 39, was the only survivor when the London-bound Boeing 787 crashed soon after take-off from Ahmedabad in western India in June. 

Footage shocked the world as he was seen walking away from burning wreckage with minor visible injuries, even as thick smoke poured into the sky.

But since returning to his home city of Leicester in England, Ramesh, who said he feels like the ‘luckiest man’ alive, has been struggling with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and can barely speak to his wife and four-year-old son. 

Speaking publicly for the first time, he told BBC News: ‘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.’

His younger brother, Ajay, had been sitting a few rows away and died in the crash. He emotionally added: ‘I lost my brother as well. My brother is my backbone. Last few years, he was always supporting me.’

The horror unfolded moments after take-off when flames engulfed the aircraft. 

A preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau suggested that engines lost fuel supply seconds into the climb. 

The accident led to the deaths of 169 Indian nationals and 52 British citizens. Nineteen people who were on the ground also lost their lives. 

Ramesh previously explained from his hospital bed in India how he freed himself from seat 11A and crawled out of a gap in the fuselage. He even met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recovery there.

Viswashkumar Ramesh was the sole survivor of the Air India disaster. For the first time since returning to the UK, he as revealed why he is still unable to speak to his family and how the incident has affected his life

Ramesh seen recovering in India. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and says he still struggles physically and mentally 

Investigations indicated that the jet lost fuel supply shortly after taking off, killing 169 Indian nationals and 52 British citizens. 19 people on the ground also were killed 

During the interview, he broke down several times as he spoke alongside Leicester community figure Sanjiv Patel and spokesman Radd Seiger. Asked about his memory of the crash, he said: ‘I can’t say anything about that now.’ 

He described the pain he and his family are now forced to deal with. 

‘Physically, mentally, also my family as well, mentally… my mum last four months, she is sitting every day outside the door, not talking, nothing,’ he said. ‘Every day is painful for the whole family.’ 

The survivor also spoke about ongoing injuries, saying he has constant pain in his leg, shoulder, knee and back. ‘When I walk, not walk properly, slowly, slowly, my wife help,’ he said. He has not worked or driven since the crash. 

His advisers say he received a PTSD diagnosis in India but has had no treatment since he came back to Britain. 

They claim he feels abandoned and that the family fishing business in Diu, India, which he ran with his brother, has collapsed.

Mr Patel said the family is ‘in crisis, mentally, physically, financially’ and insisted Air India executives should meet them. 

‘Whoever’s responsible at the highest level should be on the ground meeting the victims of this tragic event,’ he said. Mr Patel added that the tragic incident had ‘devastated his family’.  

Air India has paid £21,500 in interim compensation, which the family accepted, but they say it does not cover urgent needs. 

The world was tunned when footage emerged showing Ramesh walking away from the crash 

Ramesh, right, and his younger brother, Ajay, who was sat a few rows behind him and died in the crash. Ramesh said his family are going through pain 

Mr Seiger said the airline ignored or declined three meeting requests, adding: ‘Please come and sit down with us so that we can work through this together to try and alleviate some of this suffering.’

The airline, owned by Tata Group, said senior figures have been meeting families and that it has already offered to arrange a meeting with Mr Ramesh’s representatives.

The BBC reports that it said: ‘We will continue to reach out and we very much hope to receive a positive response.’