Bhubaneswar, Oct. 18: Radhakanta Behera is fighting for his life at the ICU of AMRI Hospitals.

He, however, was not one of those trapped in the Sum Hospital yesterday. Behera, who works as a security guard at the hospital, saved at least nine patients from the dialysis unit of the health care facility after the fire broke out.

Hailing from Sambalpur, he has been working as a bouncer for a private security firm engaged by the hospital authorities. Popular as "Bouncer Raju", the 26-year-old has been posted at the hospital for the past four years.

Last evening, Behera was on duty at the casualty ward. His shift was from noon to 8pm.

As soon as the news of fire spread, he took the lead in evacuating the patients from the ICU. He kept fighting the fire till he collapsed on the floor.

"Before the fire tenders could reach, we chalked out our strategy and began evacuation process," said Suresh Kumar Sahoo, the security supervisor at the Sum hospital.

"Some patients had already been evacuated from the ICU, but the smoke and heat in the room was making it difficult to get in. At least nine patients were still inside. It was then Behera took the lead to break open the windows from the outside. He crashed the glass panes with his bare hands and entered the room. He picked the patients one by one and handed them over to other security persons who were waiting outside the window. By then, the firemen had arrived and joined Behera. But his lungs had inhaled too much smoke and Behera collapsed," Sahoo said.

He was immediately taken to Amri hospitals. As his condition worsened this evening, Behera was shifted to the ICU.

Praise poured in from all quarters for the guts Behera showed.

"It was exemplary. His courage and bravery was witnessed by almost everybody who had gathered at the spot. We pray that he recovers soon," said Pradipta Champati, his colleague.

Doctors attending to him said that his condition was critical and he would be under observation for another 24 hours. Medical expenses for his treatment will be borne by the Sum authorities, said one of his colleagues.