Veteran actor Nana Patekar had messaged a friend around 2.30 am on Thursday, saying that he was not feeling well, shortly before he suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa, according to information
shared with doctors at the hospital.
The message became the first indication that something was wrong with the 75-year-old actor in the early hours of Thursday.
LIVE Updates On Nana Patekar’s Death
According to Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital, Patekar’s friend saw the message around 4 am and immediately rushed to the actor’s apartment in Dona Paula, near Panaji.
Salkar said the friend had informed hospital doctors about the message and what followed after he saw it.
Patekar was living at the apartment with a caretaker.
“The friend saw the message around 4 am and rushed to the apartment of Patekar, who was living with a caretaker,” Dr Salkar said.
The sequence of events then moved rapidly.
Patekar was found unconscious at his residence, following which efforts were made to get medical assistance to the apartment.
The caretaker arrived at the private hospital at around 4.18 or 4.20 am, according to Salkar. From there, an ambulance was sent to Patekar’s nearby residence.
Patekar Was Found Unconscious, CPR Started At Home
By the time the medical team reached the apartment, Patekar was already on the ground and was unconscious and almost unresponsive, Salkar said.
The medical team immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shifted the actor to the hospital while continuing the resuscitation efforts.
“The treatment started in the ambulance itself,” Salkar said.
Patekar’s residence was around five minutes away from the hospital, and the actor was brought to the medical facility in roughly 10 minutes, according to the doctor.
Doctors continued attempts to revive him after he reached the hospital.
Salkar said CPR was administered for around 45 minutes, but the actor could not be revived.
Patekar was subsequently declared dead in the early hours of Thursday.
ANI, quoting Salkar, reported the time of death as 5.20 am, while PTI, quoting the same doctor, put it at 5.10 am.
Doctors Say Exact Cause Yet To Be Established
Salkar said the actor had suffered a cardiac arrest, although the exact underlying cause was not known at the time.
He also said Patekar was a known cardiac patient and was on medication, as far as the doctors had been informed.
A medico-legal case was registered following the death.
Patekar’s body was shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Patekar was among the prominent actors of Hindi and Marathi cinema, known for his intense performances and powerful screen presence.
He made his acting debut with the 1978 film Gaman and went on to feature in films including Parinda, Prahaar: The Final Act, Angaar, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Khamoshi: The Musical and Ab Tak Chhappan.
He continued to work in films in recent years, including Housefull 5. He also appeared as a police officer in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, and had a cameo in Subedar, starring Anil Kapoor and Radhika Madan.
Patekar was a recipient of three National Film Awards and several Filmfare and Maharashtra State Film Awards. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
