DUBAI // The family of Hasan Ibrahim Al Balooshi are continuing a bedside vigil as doctors and Civil Defence chiefs consider flying the stricken firefighter overseas for treatment.
Mr Al Balooshi has been in Mediclinic City Hospital since January 8 after a lung infection worsened and he started coughing up blood.
His family said he had contracted a virus before the fire at The Address Downtown hotel on New Year’s Eve, but that his condition had deteriorated as a result of smoke inhalation after four days fighting the blaze and making the building safe.
The 29-year-old is now in a medically induced coma after suffering respiratory failure.
“He’s still in the intensive care unit and reliant on supportive mechanical ventilation,” said Hasan’s brother, Ali.
“The Civil Defence has been so supportive and are following his case closely. There are talks of maybe sending him abroad to continue his treatment.”
Ali said his lungs were failing when he was admitted but that “now they’re ... functioning at 50 per cent capacity”.
Doctors believe the respiratory failure was caused by viral pneumonia acquired before New Year’s Eve, which was aggravated by smoke inhalation.
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