Doctor: I was prevented from resuscitating ex-customs officer who died at wife’s birthday

Rasheed Olaniyi, a medical doctor, says he was prevented from saving the life of Kunle Akinyele, the late customs officer.

Akinyele slumped and died during his wife’s 60th birthday celebration in April.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, Olaniyi, a friend of the deceased, said he could have saved Akinyele’s life had he not been interrupted while administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“We were in church to celebrate his wife’s 60th birthday when he suddenly slumped. I am a medical doctor, so I immediately attempted CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation),” Olaniyi was quoted as saying.

“Unfortunately, the situation was a bit chaotic. He was rushed away before I could properly administer it.

“We quickly moved him to a hospital, and when we got there, I joined the medical team to continue CPR. But sadly, it was too late. That is how we lost him.”

Olaniyi said he tried to explain to the crowd that he was a medical doctor attempting to perform CPR, but they prevented him from continuing.

“There were several people around. None of them were medical professionals. They kept shouting: ‘don’t injure him, don’t injure him!

“I kept explaining that CPR sometimes involves breaking the ribs—if that is what it takes to bring someone back, then we do it. The ribs can heal later. They saw my efforts as harmful rather than life-saving, and they physically pushed me away. It was frustrating.

“If I had been allowed to do proper CPR right there inside the church, maybe we would have had a different outcome. God knows. I was right there the moment it happened.

“Akinyele and I belonged to the same club. At least two people shouted: ‘Let him attend to him’, ‘he’s a medical doctor.

He said he was prevented by some youths in their 20s.

“They kept interfering. They didn’t understand that proper CPR could involve breaking a rib—it’s about saving a life. It’s really very sad. His wife can’t even speak on the matter right now. She’s too heartbroken. But I know everything. I have his full medical history,” he added.

Olaniyi said when Akinyele was taken to the hospital, the doctors confirmed that CPR could have saved him.

“He wasn’t an asthmatic patient and never had any issues with asthma. He was only slightly hypertensive. That day, the stress of preparing for the party might have been too much,” he said.

“One of his drivers saw him in the car and said he looked cold and uncomfortable. The driver even brought water for him, poured it on his head, and washed his feet.

“If I had seen him at that point, I would never have let him return to the church. I would have taken him straight to a hospital. But that’s it. He was my friend for over 40 years. That’s a very long time.”

The medical doctor advised Nigerians to manage stress and maintain a healthy diet, warning that neglecting these could lead to serious health complications.