The friend from Karnataka has been in a coma since a staircase accident in Bahrain left him with severe injuries.
After becoming Dh20 million richer, Bahrain-based Indian expatriate Krishnakumar Syamala Ravindran was not thinking about luxury purchases or early retirement. Instead, the winner of Big Ticket Abu Dhabi’s June grand prize said his immediate priority is helping a close friend who has been in a coma for the past three months following a severe head injury.
Ravindran said he hopes to use part of his winnings to bring his friend back to India for further medical treatment and rehabilitation.
The friend, who is originally from Karnataka, has been in a coma since suffering serious injuries in a fall down a staircase in Bahrain. According to Krishnakumar Syamala Ravindran, the two have shared a close friendship for nearly eight years and have remained in regular contact throughout that time.
“He is still in a medical centre in Bahrain. It has been three months now,” Ravindran told Khaleej Times. “I haven’t thought about buying anything for myself yet. My first thought was about him.”
The Bahrain-based resident said watching his friend’s condition over the past few months has been emotionally challenging. While doctors continue to provide care, the uncertainty surrounding his recovery has weighed heavily on those closest to him.
Now, with an unexpected Dh20 million windfall, Ravindran hopes to do something he could not have imagined just days ago — bring his friend back to India and help ensure he receives the treatment and support he needs close to his family.
“I want to take him to India and make sure he gets the proper treatment,” he said.
The life-changing win came during Big Ticket Abu Dhabi’s June live draw, where Ravindran’s ticket number 339729 secured the Dh20 million grand prize.
‘Completely surprised’
Organisers were initially unable to reach him during the live draw.
“Yes, they tried calling my Bahrain number, but the phone was switched off. I’m currently in the UAE and the number is not on roaming,” Ravindran said.
The news eventually reached him via WhatsApp on his Indian number. He had travelled to Abu Dhabi with his family on May 27 and purchased the winning ticket during the visit.
Even after learning that he had become a multimillionaire overnight, Ravindran said the reality of the win had yet to sink in.
“I haven’t planned anything yet. I’m completely surprised.”
Ravindran said he has been participating in Big Ticket regularly since 2019, purchasing two or three tickets almost every month in the hope that luck would eventually favour him.
“I have been buying two to three tickets every month. Sometimes my friends and colleagues join me, and at other times I participate on my own,” he said.
This time, however, he purchased the winning ticket together with his sister, meaning the prize money will be shared equally between them.
Despite winning the massive jackpot, Ravindran’s thoughts remain focused on the friend he has watched fight for his life over the past three months.
