‘No Pulse, No Breathing’: Pat Utomi Recalls How He Cheated Death 35 Years Ago
For Professor Pat Utomi, July is not just another month on the calendar. It is a month his family remembers with thanksgiving — a reminder of the day doctors thought he was dead, only to discover that he was still fighting for his life.
The prominent Nigerian political economist and politician has recounted how he survived a horrific accident near Asaba 35 years ago, after doctors at Boromeo Hospital in Onitsha reportedly told the Chief of Surgery that they had lost him.
There was no pulse.
There was no breathing.
But the surgeon refused to give up.
Utomi said the doctor insisted on continuing efforts to save his life, determined to “fulfill all righteousness”.
Against the odds, the medical team eventually discovered that Utomi was still alive and rushed him into surgery to stop internal bleeding caused by the accident.
His driver, however, had already died in the crash.
The experience has remained one of the defining moments of Utomi’s life, turning July into what he described as a period of “non-stop thanksgiving” for his family.
But that was not the only time the professor would come close to death.
Years later, he found himself caught up in another terrifying experience during the July 7, 2005 terrorist attacks on London’s public transport system.
Looking back on both experiences, Utomi said they have reinforced his belief in divine providence.
He wrote:
“35 years ago, doctors at Boromeo Hospital in Onitsha told the Chief of Surgery that they had lost me.
“No pulse.
“No breathing.
“But the surgeon refused to give up. He insisted on fighting on, determined to at least ‘fulfill all righteousness.’
“Then, against all expectations, they found me alive and proceeded with surgery to stop the internal bleeding caused by an accident near Asaba the night before.
“The accident had already claimed the life of my driver.
“July will always be a month of non-stop thanksgiving in my family.
“Years later, I found myself in another close shave, this time during the 7/7 terror!st attacks on London’s transport system.
“Looking back at it all, one thing is certain: if God is with you, you have everything.
“Gratitude to my Maker.”
Utomi shared the reflection online, turning what could have been a personal anniversary into a testimony about survival, loss and gratitude.
For a man who has spent decades engaging Nigeria on politics, economics, leadership and national development, the story offers a deeply personal glimpse into the moments when life itself hung in the balance.
Thirty-five years after the accident, the memory of the driver who did not survive remains part of the story — as does the determination of a surgeon who refused to pronounce the final word.
For Utomi, the lesson is simple: sometimes, when everything appears lost, life can still have another chapter to write.
By Innocent Onoh
