A Employee Passed Away 10 Minutes After Taking Sick Leave

A manager shared his shock over the “devastating” death of a “fit 40 year old” coworker who passed away just 10 minutes after asking for sick leave due to “heavy back pain”.

The account, KV Iyyer – Bharat on X, mentioned, “One of my colleagues, Shankar, texted me this morning at 8:37 am saying: ‘Sir, I can’t come in today because of heavy back pain. Please grant me leave’.

This kind of leave request is pretty common, I replied, ‘Okay, take care’. The day went on as usual. Then at 11 am, I got a call that shook me to my core.

The caller informed me that Shankar had died. I couldn’t believe it at first. I called another colleague to double check and to get his home address. Once I had the address, I rushed over to his place. He was GONE.

The manager mentioned that his colleague has been on his team for 6 years now.

“He’s just 40, in great shape, married, and has a kid. Doesn’t smoke and has never tried alcohol”, he said.

DEVASTATING INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED TODAY MORNING :-

One of my colleague, Shankar texted me today morning at 8.37 am with a message
"Sir, due to heavy backpain I am unable to come today. So please grant me leave." Such type of leave requests, being usual, I replied "Ok take…
— KV Iyyer – BHARAT 🇮🇳🇮🇱 (@BanCheneProduct) September 13, 2025

He went on to say, “He had a cardiac arrest. What’s really shocking is that he texted me asking for leave at 8:37 am, and he passed away at 8:47 am. A guy who was fully aware sent me a message just 10 minutes before he took his last breath. I’m COMPLETELY SHOCKED. Life can be so unpredictable. Let’s be kind to those around us and enjoy life while we can, because you never know what might happen next”.

Is back pain actually a warning sign of heart issues?

Absolutely, heart attacks and cardiac arrests don’t always present with the typical chest pain.

In certain situations, particularly in younger or healthier people, symptoms might manifest as discomfort in the back, shoulders, or even the jaw.

This can often be confused with muscle strain, digestive problems, or just feeling tired.

The real risk comes from misunderstanding the warning signs.

When symptoms are mild, folks usually brush them off or put off getting medical assistance.

Cardiac emergencies can escalate quickly, and if you don’t get help right away, your chances of survival decrease a lot.

What should you do if you suddenly experience unexplained back pain or similar symptoms?

If the back pain is severe, comes on quickly, and is paired with sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, or fatigue, it should be considered a potential red flag.

Contact emergency services right away can really make a difference. Even if it ends up not being heart related, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.

What lessons can we take away from this tragedy?

Awareness is the strongest weapon we have.

Don’t ignore unusual or sudden aches, particularly in your upper body.

Family members can help themselves and others by knowing the basics of CPR and keeping emergency contact numbers handy.

Adopting a few easy lifestyle habits, such as regular health checkups and managing stress, can also help lower risk.

DISCLAIMER: This article is derived from information available in the public domain.It’s always a good idea to check your doctor before beginning any new routine.