Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar’s eyes give sight to four youths

In probably the first such case in Karnataka, Kannada film actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s eyes have given sight to four youths. Dr Bhujang Shetty, the chairman and managing director of Narayana Nethralaya, on Monday, said the transplant was carried out with the help of advanced techniques.

Speaking to media persons, Shetty said, “Even in their grief, Puneeth’s family extended their support to donate his eyes. We collected the eyes on Friday, the day he died, and they were transplanted the very next day. Generally, we transplant donated eyes to two persons but in Puneeth’s case, we were able to give sight to four youths.”

The actor, who died following a massive heart attack, donated his eyes like his father - legendary south actor Dr Rajkumar - who had himself pledged his entire family's eyes back in 1994. Dr Rajkumar had also died of a heart attack on 12 April 2006 aged 76.

A team of doctors performed the procedure within a six-hour window after his death, tweeted actor Chetan Kumar Ahimsa.

"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," the actor tweeted, urging everyone to donate "following in their footsteps & in Appu Sir's memory".

Puneeth Rajkumar, a fitness enthusiast, was rushed to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru after he complained of chest pain following a two-hour workout in the gym, doctors treating him said. He died shortly after. He is survived by his wife Ashwini Revanth and two daughters Dhriti and Vanditha.