WYOMING – Doctors caring for Otto Warmbier say the college student from suburban Cincinnati, who was released by North Korea in a coma, suffered a “severe neurological injury.”
Wambier occasionally blinks but “he shows no signs of understanding language, responding to verbal commands or awareness of his surroundings,” said neurologist Dr. Danial Kantner of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Doctors say the University of Virginia student is in a coma with severe injury to all regions of his brain.
Warmbier is in stable condition after arriving at the hospital two days ago, medical center spokeswoman Kelly Martin said Thursday.
His father, Fred Warmbier, says he does not believe North Korea’s explanation that the coma resulted from botulism and a sleeping pill.
Fred Warmbier said there’s relief to have their son home in the arms of those who love him and anger that he was so brutally treated for so long.
The State Department says the U.S. diplomat who traveled to North Korea to secure Warmbier’s release was also able to make contact with three other Americans detained there.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says the U.S. was pleased that special envoy Joseph Yun was also able to reach the other detained Americans. She won’t say what Yun gleaned about their medical condition.
She says Yun’s visit to Warmbier along with two doctors occurred in a North Korean hospital. She says Yun traveled with the doctors on a private aircraft after being instructed by President Donald Trump to travel there to negotiate Warmbier’s release.
One of former President Barack Obama’s advisers says the Obama administration had “no higher priority” than securing the release of Americans detained overseas but North Korea’s isolation “posed unique challenges.”
Ned Price says the Democratic president’s administration “worked through every avenue available” to try to secure Warmbier’s release.
A White House spokeswoman says Warmbier’s release “was a big priority” for President Donald Trump.
Price said Thursday the Obama administration’s efforts secured the release of at least 10 other Americans from North Korea. He says efforts to get Warmbier home never ceased. He says the administration is heartened Warmbier has been reunited with his family.