This is the incredible moment a two-year-old who lost BOTH his legs in a tragic train accident met the surgeons who reattached his limbs.
Mohammed Saleh was left fighting for his life after the accident which killed his mother while they crossed train tracks.
Horrified onlookers scooped up the lad and put the severed limbs in a polystyrene box filled with ice, and rushed him to hospital.
Miraculously the surgeons were able to reattach the limbs during a painstaking seven-hour op.
And eight months on, brave Mohammed, from Mangalore in Karnataka state of India, is now able to walk and run, and met the surgeons who saved his life.
A J Hospital medical director, Dr. Prashant Marla, said: “The toddler boy was being carried by his mother.
“In a heartbreaking, disastrous train accident the mother was killed, while the boy luckily survived but lost both his legs.
“He was lying in a pool of blood with severed lower limbs and was rescued by some citizens and railway police and taken to a hospital in Payyanur, Kerala.
“After giving first aid, the baby was referred to our hospital with the amputated limbs well preserved in ice.
“The amputated legs were transported in a thermocol box, kept in a polythene pack with surrounding ice.”
Doctors treating little Mohammed did not know his name, and were not able to trace his father, who works in Dubai, before the operation.
Following the prodecure, his details were released to the media, and his grandparents got in touch.
“At that time we had no clue about the whereabouts of the family of this child,” Dr Marla added.
“It was extremely rare and critical situation for the baby and the treating doctors had to take a decision on the further course of action.
“He was alert, in a state of shock, anxious but unable to communicate, too dazed to even cry.
“He was very pale due to severe blood loss.
“The priority was to save the child and treat the injuries.
“Rejoining was a logical step, however, was not a simple task, particularly when no parent was around.
“Rejoining a amputated limb is a complex procedure, both technical and its effects on the patient.
“It is a long process.
“Such decision is taken with due considerations to all aspects, explaining the pros and cons to the family, so that they make informed decisions.
“We decided to give our best efforts to replant both the limbs and hope to succeed based on our previous experience in several such cases in the past.
“Railway police were extremely supportive of our decision, gave consent to go ahead.”
Experts at the hospital claim the successful reconnection of BOTH limbs has only happened 13 times in the world before – only four involving children.
Mohammed is said to be the first successful patient to undergo the operation in India – and the youngest in the world.
The seven-hour long surgery was carried out by plastic surgeon Dr. Dinesh Kadam and his team.
Dr Marla said: “The boy was monitored intensively and has made a good recovery.
“He has undergone skin grafting surgeries and implant removal procedures. Fractured bones have united and he is now able to walk independently.
“He has made good recovery of muscle power and sensory recognition in both his rejoined limbs.”
Saleh’s father works in Dubai and visits him often but he is now living with his grandparents.
