The Boy Who Refused to Leave the Pond: A Mother’s Haunting Account of What Unfolded When He Did
Ever wondered what it’s like to literally live in a pond for five years? Well, Iqbal Sheikh, a 16-year-old from West Bengal, might just have the answer — and it’s anything but ordinary. This boy has been submerged more than most of us dip a toe, all because stepping on dry land brings him unbearable burning sensations, dizziness, and blurred vision. Could cold water be the magic potion he needs, or is there a mystery lurking beneath the surface that no doctor has quite cracked yet? While some whisper of supernatural “jinn,” the real story is a puzzling medical condition that’s caught the attention of doctors and even one of India’s richest men. As Iqbal now undergoes tests in Mumbai, his mother’s desperate hope is simple: to finally understand what’s causing her son’s pain and if there’s a way to help him walk on land again without agony. Dive in with me to explore this fascinating, viral tale — just be warned, it’s not all splash and fun. LEARN MORE
The mother of a boy who has gone viral for ‘living in ponds’ for the past five years has explained the debilitating symptoms he suffers from on dry land.
Iqbal Sheikh, 16, is now finally in Mumbai, where doctors are investigating the condition that seems to force him into the water.
A bit of a local legend in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India, the lad experiences a painful burning sensation on his skin with the cold water apparently giving him relief.
His mum has said that his symptoms when outside of the water included the likes of dizziness and blurred vision, as well as this feeling of ‘burning’.
Iqbal has previously claimed that ‘jinn’ was forcing him into the ponds, with no doctor having been able to explain the persistent sensation.
All his mother has wanted is for someone to figure out what is wrong.
The teen says he experiences a burning sensation on his skin which the water helps to relieve. (X)
“People saw the videos and started asking why he was always in the water, but what they did not know was what happened to him when he came out. He would complain of burning and discomfort,” she told the Mumbai Mirror.
His symptoms apparently began several years ago, getting worse over time.
Iqbal apparently found it so difficult to stand up comfortably that sometimes he would end up walking bent over.
“We knew he was suffering, but we did not know why,” his mum added.
“When your child keeps telling you he is in pain and nobody can explain why, you continue searching.”
One of the richest people in the country, Anant Ambani, is believed to have gotten involved in attempting to help Iqbal as he has been taken to Mumbai.
The teen is now undergoing evaluation at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.
He is currently being evaluated by doctors. (X)
Physician Dr Brajpal Tyagi also contacted the family as the videos of Iqbal submerged in ponds continued to go viral online.
“The first step is to establish exactly what condition he has,” the outlet reports he said during earlier consultations. “Only after that can an appropriate treatment plan be developed.”
It’s reported that possible disorders affecting sweating, temperature regulation, nerve function and pain perception are being investigated with no diagnosis yet confirmed.
Iqbal’s mum says that the family are ‘not concerned’ about a name for the cause just what it is and ‘whether it can be treated’.
“If the doctors can help us understand that and show us a way forward, it will mean everything to our family,” she added.
Some doctors have suggested that the cause of his pain and discomfort is a condition called erythromelalgia.
Symptoms of this rare condition includes a burning sensation as well as feeling warmth or redness.
The NHS says it mostly impacts the feet but can also affect other areas of the body. But again, this remains a theory.
Being submerged in water long-term comes with grim health risks
Spending so much time in the water likely isn’t good for Sheikh.
BBC Science Focus explains: “For reasons that still aren’t well understood, human skin starts to break down after continuous immersion in water of a few days.
“You’d suffer open sores and be liable to fungal and bacterial infections just from the spores on your skin, even if the water itself was perfectly sterile.
“The pressure of the water also reduces the circulation to your extremities and makes breathing more difficult.”
A dermatologist told Indian news agency ANI that Sheikh might be at risk of skin irritation, cracking and infection, while a second dermatologist cautioned that being submerged in water for a long time increases the risk of fungal and bacterial infections.
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