SALMAN RUSHDIE UPDATE

The author has lost his eye and use of his hand

It wastouchand go for Salman Rushdie after he was stabbed while preparing to deliver a lecture in New York two months ago – but the Satanic Verses author is now on the mend.

His agent, Andrew Wylie, recently revealed just how close Rushdie (75) came to death when 24-yearold Hadi Matar stormed the stage and stabbed him repeatedly.

“His wounds were profound, but he’s also lost the sight of one eye,” Wylie says.

“He had three serious wounds in his neck. One hand is incapacitated because the nerves in his arm were cut. And he has about 15 more wounds in his chest and torso. It was a brutal attack.”

Wylie wouldn’t confirm if Rushdie, who was rushed to hospital and placed on a ventilator after the incident, is still being treated in hospital.

Matar, who was charged with attempted murder and assault, pleaded not guilty at his last court appearance in August.