The San Bernardo hospital in Argentina discharged the Bolivian journalist burned live on air, Fernando VIdal, on Monday, Dec. 10, after he received three surgeries, reported the newspaper El Tribuno. According to the journalist's son, Kim Romero, Vidal will hold a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 12, and hopes to return to Bolivia within the next two weeks if doctors say he is ready to travel, the newspaper added.
Four men stormed the station where Vidal worked, poured gasoline over him and lit him on fire while his radio program broadcasted the attack live to the city of Yacuiba, Bolivia, on Oct. 29. It is believed the attack on Vidal was related to his critical stance against the Bolivian government and recent reports he made on supposed cases of corruption and smuggling along the border with Argentina.
The journalist received 10 surgeries in total, the most dramatic involved grafting skin from both thighs on to his forearms, which were severely burned, according to the newspaper La Jornada. Police arrested the four suspected arsonists.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
