CINCINNATI — A college student from Ohio who was released from a North Korean prison is finally home but in a coma and undergoing treatment at an Ohio hospital.
UPDATE: Warmbier family expected to hold a news conference Thursday morning.
An airplane carrying Ohio native Otto Warmbier landed in Cincinnati late Tuesday night. The 22-year-old was then taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
In Warmbier’s hometown of Wyoming, just outside of Cincinnati, residents tied ribbons to trees and said news of his release had sent waves of shock and joy through the community.
Republican Sen. Rob Portman released a statement condemning the Pyongyang government for Warmbier’s detention and calling for the release of other American prisoners:
“Otto’s detainment and sentence was unnecessary and appalling, and North Korea should be universally condemned for its abhorrent behavior. Otto should have been released from the start. For North Korea to imprison Otto with no notification or consular access for more than a year is the utmost example of its complete failure to recognize fundamental human rights and dignity. We still have three Americans who are being held unjustly by North Korea. They should be released immediately.” -U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)
The State Department secured Warmbier’s release at President Donald Trump’s direction.
A hospital spokeswoman says Warmbier’s family is expected to hold a news conference Thursday morning at Wyoming High School.