COLOMBO: What appeared to be a routine daily activity turned into a life-and-death struggle for a man in Sri Lanka after a shocking bathroom accident while brushing his teeth.
Sixty-three-year-old retired government employee Prem Lal slipped while brushing his teeth in the bathroom, causing the toothbrush to snap into two pieces. The broken front portion lodged deep in his throat, creating a serious risk of suffocation.
According to Prem Lal, he was rushed first to a nearby private hospital and then to a government facility, but doctors initially struggled to locate the broken piece of the toothbrush.
Within an hour, his condition worsened as his throat began to swell, his breathing became restricted, and he started coughing up blood. Subsequent X-rays and a CT scan confirmed that the broken toothbrush fragment was still stuck inside his throat.
He was later transferred to a government hospital in the city of Galle, where a team of ear, nose, and throat specialists performed a complex surgical procedure. Doctors said the toothbrush fragment had injured the throat and become lodged dangerously close to a major artery, making the situation extremely critical.
After several hours of intensive surgery, the operation was successful and the broken piece was safely removed. Prem Lal remained under medical care for nearly a week before being discharged and is now fully recovered.
Reflecting on the incident, he described it as a warning for everyone, saying that even the most ordinary daily activities can become fatal if done carelessly. He urged people to always prioritize caution, emphasizing that a single moment of negligence can change a life forever.
