Sachin Tendulkar has come to the rescue of his friend Dilbir Singh, who was bed-ridden since a near fatal accident in 2002, by sponsoring his treatment.
The batting maestro visited him in Ahmedabad on Wednesday after he underwent successful hip-replacement surgery at Shelby hospital.
Tendulkar played under-17 cricket with Dalbir and both are close friends.
"Dilbir has been suffering since his accident in 2002. But now with the hip-replacement his life would be normal again. I am very thankful to Sachin for all his help and support throughout these years," said Dalbir's sister, Sukhbir Kaur.
Tendulkar was paying for Dilbir's treatment, Kaur said, adding "I salute Sachin for his gesture of kindness."
Dilbir's mother Sukhdayal Kaur said she is relieved after her son's successful surgery operation.
"This is all with god's grace," she said.
The hospital's Medical Director, Pankaj Doshi, said Dilbir was referred to them by Dr Ananth Joshi, who was earlier associated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
"Dr Joshi, after looking at Dilbir's condition suggested hip replacement as the only solution and referred him to Dr J A Pachouri, one of the top-most hip replacement specialists in the country, who is working with us here," Doshi said.
"The operation took around four hours, during which the left hip was replaced. After 8-12 weeks the right hip would be replaced," Doshi added.
He said Dilbir was in coma for nearly six months after the accident and given steroids as a life saving measure.
"The steroids had a side effect on his hip joints, which were destroyed, resulting in arthritic problems.
"After the replacement of hips on both the sides, Dilbir would be able perform his routine work normally," Doshi said.
