By Our Correspondent
A disturbing video has emerged showing an unidentified man lying unconscious on the ground in front of H-medix on 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja, sparking concern and confusion among residents and passersby.
In the footage, which has since circulated on social media, a small crowd keeps a cautious distance as the man remains motionless near the entrance of the popular pharmacy and supermarket. Some bystanders can be heard saying he may have died, but no official confirmation was available at the time of filming.
At the point the video was recorded by a staff of NTA, the man had not been officially certified deceased. He also remained unmoved and appeared not to be receiving any assistance from anyone at the scene.
The incident, which occurred in one of the busiest commercial areas of Gwarinpa, has raised serious questions about emergency response and the willingness of bystanders to assist persons in distress in public places.
In the video, the man is seen lying face up on the pavement, with his arms by his side, while onlookers stand around him, some filming with their phones, others whispering among themselves. No one is seen checking his pulse, calling for help, or attempting to move him to safety.
The identity of the man and the circumstances of his collapse were not immediately known. No authority had publicly confirmed the reported death as of the time of the footage.
It was also not clear whether the man had slumped while walking along the busy 3rd Avenue, whether he was coming out of the H-medix outlet, or whether he had a known medical condition that could have triggered the collapse.
Residents who watched the video have expressed shock at the apparent lack of immediate assistance, with many asking why no one at the scene, including staff of nearby shops, appeared to have rushed to help or alerted emergency services.
Others have also cautioned against spreading unverified claims of death, noting that only a qualified medical doctor can certify a person dead, and that the man in the video could still have been alive but unconscious at the time he was filmed.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the management of H-medix, the police, nor any hospital in the area had issued an official statement on the incident.
Efforts to confirm whether the man was later taken to a hospital, revived, or certified dead were still ongoing.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the need for public enlightenment on first aid, emergency response and the duty of citizens to assist persons who collapse in public, rather than standing by and recording videos.
Members of the public have been urged to always alert the nearest hospital, police station or emergency service whenever they witness such incidents, as prompt intervention can make the difference between life and death.