Havana/Former Italian deputy Alessandro Di Battista left Cuba this Friday aboard an air ambulance, almost two weeks after suffering a serious health episode that ended with an emergency operation at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana. His arrival in Rome is scheduled for this Saturday, after a trip in stages designed to reduce the risks derived from his delicate condition.
The former leader of the 5 Star Movement, 48, left the Island after receiving the approval of the doctors who treated him during the last few days. The Schierarsi association, founded by Di Battista and of which he is vice president, confirmed the departure. Its president, Luca Di Giuseppe, published a photograph of the air ambulance on Instagram and thanked the Cuban health personnel again.
The air tracking records consulted by 14ymedio They point out that the device used in the transfer is a Bombardier Challenger 605 from Luxembourg Air Rescue, registration LX-AMB, used specifically as a long-range medical plane. The company incorporated this model into its fleet to carry out medical repatriations and intercontinental flights, with a range that can reach 7,400 kilometers.
The total planned duration is around 12 hours and arrival in Italy is scheduled for this Saturday
The plane was scheduled for a first leg this Friday between Havana and Nassau, in the Bahamas, a stopover that coincides with the itinerary planned for Di Battista’s first repatriation attempt, aborted last week. Although the flight records do not identify the passengers, the sanitary nature of the device, the schedules and the route coincide with the information released in Italy about the return of the so-called “Italian Che.”
Another stopover is planned in Gander, a Canadian airport that has a curious history related to the Island. This city in Newfoundland was a regular stop for Cubana de Aviación flights and other airlines from the socialist bloc between Havana and Eastern Europe. The terminal became famous among those who wanted to leave their countries, and numerous Cubans took advantage of the technical stops to request asylum in Canada. The airport itself recalls that this practice became so frequent that the authorities ended up tightening immigration controls.
According to the italian pressthe trip is carried out in several stages and at an altitude adapted to the patient’s medical conditions to limit pressure changes. The total planned duration is around 12 hours and arrival in Italy is scheduled for this Saturday.
The first transfer was scheduled for September 4, but the plan was thwarted at the last minute
Di Battista arrived in Cuba to prepare a series of reports for Il Fatto Quotidiano and its audiovisual platform TvLoft. The past August 28 He suffered severe headaches when he was in Santa Clara and lost consciousness for several hours. He was initially treated in that city and later transferred by ambulance to Hermanos Ameijeiras, where he was admitted.
The case also mobilized the Italian authorities. Two specialists from the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, a neurosurgeon and a resuscitator, traveled to Havana to collaborate with the Cuban doctors and evaluate whether the patient was fit to make the long return trip. The Italian Government had also offered a state medical flight, but Di Battista later announced that he would use an air ambulance covered by the private insurance he had taken out before traveling.
The first transfer was scheduled for last September 4, but the plan was foiled at the last minute. When everything was ready to take him to Italy, his condition worsened again and the Ameijeiras doctors decided to perform emergency surgery. According to Corriere della Serathe air ambulance destined to pick him up had already arrived in the Bahamas and in Rome the Gemelli staff was waiting for him to continue the treatment.
Di Battista, known for years in Italy as the “Italian Che” for his political speech and his sympathies towards several left-wing Latin American governments, will remain under medical observation upon his arrival.
After the operation, Di Battista spent several days in intensive care. Schierarsi reported this week that he was facing the post-intervention phase favorably and assured that he was looking forward to “resuming his battles.” The association also praised the work of the Cuban doctors and described the care received at the Havana hospital as excellent.
The exact nature of the medical problem remains unknown. The Italian press has talked about a stroke, but neither the family nor the doctors have released an official diagnosis. This Friday’s return puts an end, at least, to the uncertainty about his departure from Cuba.
Di Battista, known for years in Italy as the “Italian Che” for his political speech and his sympathies towards various left-wing Latin American governments, will remain under medical observation upon his arrival. The planned destination is Rome, where he will continue his recovery after a stay in Cuba that began as a journalistic trip and ended up becoming a complex health evacuation.
