RIP Puneeth Rajkumar: Power Star’s eyes donated after his death; Followed his father’s footsteps

Just like his father, the late actor Puneeth Rajkumar has also donated his eyes. And as per his wish, a team of doctors performed the procedure within a six-hour window after his death, tweeted actor Chetan Kumar Ahimsa. He wrote, “While I was at hospital to see Appu Sir, a medical group came to remove his eyes in 6-hour window after death, Appu Sir—like Dr Rajkumar & @NimmaShivanna—donated his eyes. Following in their footsteps & in Appu Sir’s memory, we must all pledge to donate our #eyes as well. I do so.” His family donated his eyes to Narayana Nethralaya.

Back in 1994, his father Dr.Rajkumar had promised that his whole family’s eyeballs will be donated after their death. His father had died of a heart attack on April 12, 2006, at the age of 76. For the unversed, the power star passed away at the age of 46 after suffering a heart attack yesterday. His last rites will take place either today evening or tomorrow upon the arrival of his daughter and will be performed with full state honours.

While I was at hospital to see Appu Sir, a medical group came to remove his eyes in 6-hour window after death

Appu Sir—like Dr Rajkumar & @NimmaShivanna—donated his eyes

Following in their footsteps & in Appu Sir’s memory, we must all pledge to donate our #eyes as well

I do so pic.twitter.com/MsNAv5zGZC

— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) October 29, 2021

Puneeth Rajkumar’s eyes donated

As per News 18, Dr. Bhujang Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Nethralaya said, “Dr Rajkumar had said while pledging his eyes, that all members of his family will donate their eyes after death. The family has kept his word. Even at such a difficult time, they called me this noon and asked to retrieve his eyes. They are truly brave.”

He added, “My team has retrieved a pair of healthy eyes from Puneeth Rajkumar. We have a long list of recipients waiting at our hospital. Thankfully, blood groups need not be matched for eye donations. Hence we can use these eyes sooner. By tomorrow or the day after we are planning to transplant these eyes to two other patients in dire need. They get to see the world again.”

According to reports, the power star, who was a fitness enthusiast, was rushed to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru after he complained about chest pain after working out in the gym. However, despite all the efforts and attempts, the actor couldn’t survive. His fans and the film industry got a rude shock after learning the news of his untimely death. Several politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as colleagues in the southern film fraternity, and those in Bollywood, took to social media to express their condolences. He is survived by his wife, Ashwini Revanth, and two children, Dhriti and Vanditha.

Also Read: RIP Puneeth Rajkumar: Hospital statement claims he was ‘non-responsive’; Last rites to be performed with full state honours