What happened to Di Battista in Cuba: crisis delays his return to Italy

Alessandro Di Battista’s return to Italy was postponed after his condition deteriorated during the night in Cuba. Doctors at Havana’s Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital decided to operate immediately, making the planned medical evacuation impossible.

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The return of Alessandro Di Battista has been postponed. We ask everyone to show the utmost discretion and caution in sharing information while awaiting further updates.

An air ambulance had reached the Bahamas and was expected to continue to Havana before taking Di Battista to Rome. Doctors at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic were waiting to perform another operation and begin treatment. Instead, his association Schierarsi announced that the transfer had been delayed and asked people to show “the utmost discretion and caution” while awaiting further updates.

The message, also shared through the former Five Star Movement lawmaker’s social media channels, prompted thousands of supporters to post messages of affection and solidarity. “Go on, Ale!”, “Get well soon” and “We are waiting for you,” they wrote.

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Everything necessary.

Di Battista fell ill on Aug. 28 while in Cuba reporting for Il Fatto Quotidiano. He suffered a severe headache, was hospitalized urgently in Santa Clara and later transferred to Havana after regaining consciousness. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani activated the Italian embassy and said the government would do “everything necessary.” His partner, Sahra Lahouasnia, and two Gemelli specialists, a neurosurgeon and an intensive-care doctor, also traveled to Cuba to assess whether he could be transferred safely. Di Battista later wrote that he felt better and was optimistic, but the planned flight was subsequently postponed.

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Today I feel better.