Man’s brain damage mystery after N.Korea release

A US college student who emerged from prison in North Korea in a coma has severe brain damage but doctors do not know what caused it, a team treating him has said.

The doctors described Otto Warmbier, 22, as being in a state of “unresponsive wakefulness” but declined to discuss his outlook for improvement, saying such information would be kept confidential.

“He has spontaneous eye opening and blinking,” said Dr Daniel Kanter, director of neurocritical care for the University of Cincinnati health system. However, he shows no signs of understanding language, responding to verbal commands or awareness of his surroundings. He has not spoken.”

Mr Warmbier is in a stable condition at the UC Medical Center, where he was taken immediately after his arrival in Ohio on Tuesday after more than 17 months in North Korean captivity.

The reclusive country accused the University of Virginia student of antistate activities.

His father, Fred Warmbier, said the family was proud of their son, calling him “a fighter”. He said the family is trying to keep him comfortable.

The elder Mr Warmbier said he did not believe North Korea’s explanation that the coma resulted from botulism and a sleeping pill.

US doctors said they found no evidence of active botulism, a rare, serious illness caused by contaminated food or a dirty wound.

He said there was no reason for North Korea to keep his son’s condition, apparently dating back to March 2016, a secret and to deny him top medical care.

Dr Kanter said the young man suffered “extensive loss of brain tissue in all regions of the brain”.

Doctors said his injuries are consistent with respiratory arrest cutting off oxygen to the brain.

They said an examination of Mr Warmbier’s body found no evidence of fractures that might be evidence of severe beatings.