A teenage boy who spent five years submerged in ponds and rivers to escape crippling pain has been airlifted to Mumbai for specialist care after a billionaire intervened.
Iqbal Sheikh, 16, from Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India, developed a mysterious condition that causes an intense burning sensation across his skin whenever he is on dry land. To survive, he has spent much of the past half-decade living in nearby bodies of water, sometimes remaining chest-deep well into the night.
Footage of his daily existence spread widely across social platforms, showing him calmly eating snacks while submerged to his chest. That viral attention eventually reached Anant Ambani, the Indian billionaire, who arranged for the teenager to be flown to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai for evaluation.
A team of medical experts reviewed Iqbal’s case after the video gained traction, and on Ambani’s instructions, he was admitted for specialist assessment, according to the Hindustan Times. The intervention gave the family access to care they had previously said they could not afford.
Doctors now suspect Iqbal may be suffering from erythromelalgia, a rare disorder associated with episodes of burning pain, redness, and increased skin temperature. The condition most commonly affects the hands and feet, though symptoms can vary between patients. In Iqbal’s case, the reported symptoms involve his body more broadly than the typical presentation.
Erythromelalgia can be treated through several approaches, including creams, gels, sprays and tablets. However, doctors at the Mumbai hospital will need to establish the underlying cause of Iqbal’s symptoms before deciding on an appropriate treatment plan.
The years in water have not been without their own medical risks. A dermatologist at SSKM Hospital explained that prolonged exposure leaves skin pale and soft, making it more vulnerable to infection, cracks, and irritation. Another dermatologist noted that continuous moisture from being submerged increases the risk of both bacterial and fungal infections, meaning Iqbal’s coping method carried dangers even as it eased his pain.
Iqbal’s family had taken him to multiple hospitals in search of treatment before the viral attention, but his condition failed to improve. Severe financial constraints eventually forced his parents to halt his medical care altogether, leaving him with little choice but to keep relying on water to manage the pain on his own.
Doctors at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital are expected to continue their evaluation to determine the precise cause of his symptoms and develop a targeted treatment approach.