FLORENCE, ITALY – Yesterday morning Don Alan Brennan, the american tourist 68 years old who stabbed the 21st of May in piazza Duomo in Florence among people, he left the hospital Santa Maria Nuova. He arrived in Florence with two kidneys, but now he has just one. His condition was serious because the wound caused by stab was very deep: at least a few inches to get to irreparably injure the right kidney and lick the lung. He will return next week in Chico, in Northern California where, before retiring, he was a teacher in high school.
Brennan, after an emergency surgery at Santa Maria Nuova’s hospital by the team headed by Dr. Sergio Cardini, stayed a few days in intensive care and then in the department of general surgery. This morning doctors have allowed him to leave the hospital.
Professor Brennan, after this bad experience will you return to Florence?
Surely. Your city is beautiful and the reception that I got by Florentines was outstanding.
Could you tell us about your trip to Italy?
Me and my wife Connie were five days in Rome, then we should have stayed in Florence for four days and then to Spoleto. From there, Ancona and Split. Moreover, we visited Croatia and Slovenia with a group of friends who we achieved.
What about Florence?
We have been in Florence for two days. In the afternoon of 21st of May we went to the Accademia Gallery to admire David. Then while we have decided to go towards the Duomo. While we were standing at the corner with via Ricasoli, someone suddenly pulled back a shot. He looked like he had the strength of Boxer Carmen Basilio.
Did he want to steal something?
No, I don’t think so. I also put my hands in my pocket to check, but there was everything. I yelled ‘ help! help! ‘ but the man had already dismissed. I realized that I was bleeding. I had strength to reach the mercy, after that I passed out. My wife was afraid because he believed that I had not done.
And what about in hospital?
I have found excellent people. From Dr. Sergio Cardini, who operated me, to Dr. Armando Sarti of the ICU and their staff. I really would like to thank everyone. They have saved my life.
Did someone come to meet you?
Yes, the Deputy Mayor Stefania Saccardi did. She wanted to bring me the city’s wishes. Then, other exceptional people came, as municipality Alessio Gigli and Gerardo Gallo of Calamandrei High School that there were close up to me from the first moment. Thanks everybody.
This morning there was the last «lunch» in the hospital. Lasagna, meatballs and vegetable. «Dr. Cardini told me to eat everything and then I am really hungry”, says smiling professor Brennan while Connie is preparing the bag to leave the hospital. The worst has gone.
Meanwhile, the alleged assailant Antonio Antonelli, 35 years old from Trani, he has been arrested by police an hour after wounding. At the moment Antonelli has locked up in Sollicciano, a prison in Florence, and he is on charge of attempted murder. Prosecutor Paolo Canessa, who will need to decide on request for indictment, he is following investigation.
The knife which the American tourist was shot with, as he was walking quietly with his wife in front of Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, has not found yet. Probably, it is a long-bladed knife, which the attacker has managed to unravel. Antonelli, has traced thanks to surveillance cameras in Via Faenza as he walked quietly around Via Nazionale, probably to reach Santa Maria Novella railway station.
(Sandro Addario-Stefania Ressa translated from Firenze Post)