Iqbal Sheikh, a 16-year-old from Beldanga town, West Bengal, India, endured a life submerged in village ponds for 5 years due to a mysterious illness. This rare condition caused intense burning pain on his skin whenever he was on dry land, a sensation only alleviated by water. His plight recently gained widespread attention, leading to an intervention by Anant Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who arranged for Iqbal to receive specialized medical care in Mumbai.

For half a decade, Iqbal's daily life centered around the ponds. Local residents frequently observed him standing or floating in the water, with only his head visible. His family and neighbors brought him food and drink, which he consumed while submerged. At times, he would spend 4 or 5 consecutive days and nights in the water, moving from one pond to another when necessary.

Iqbal explained that the pain subsided when his body was immersed in water. However, the moment he emerged onto dry land, his skin would quickly become hot and painful, compelling him to return to the cooling embrace of the pond.

His family had sought help from local hospitals and tried various traditional remedies, but his condition showed no improvement. With treatment costs far exceeding their financial capabilities, using pond water became Iqbal's only accessible method for pain relief.

Iqbal lived in a pond in Beldanga town, West Bengal state, India. Photo: Oddity Central.

The teenager's unusual situation came to prominence in early august after a video depicting him eating and drinking in a pond circulated widely on social media. This footage drew the attention of Anant Ambani, who then offered medical support.

Following Anant Ambani's request, Iqbal was transported to Mumbai city and admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. His family confirmed this was the first time Iqbal had been under the care of a team of specialist doctors. Medical experts in Mumbai initially suggested Iqbal might be suffering from erythromelalgia, a rare condition characterized by hot, red, and burning pain on the skin. These symptoms are known to worsen with increased body temperature and temporarily subside when cooled.

Doctor Rudrajit Pal in Kolkata city cautioned that the erythromelalgia diagnosis is an initial speculation. He noted that similar symptoms could also arise from dermatological diseases, neurological disorders, or psychological issues.

Doctors also expressed concern that years of continuous water immersion could have complicated Iqbal's condition, potentially leading to constant skin cracking, loss of its protective barrier, and increased susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections. The hospital has not yet released an official diagnosis and is continuing comprehensive tests to determine the root cause of his suffering.

By Ngoc Ngan, citing Oddity Central, Hindustan Times, India Today.