The US-based tourist who was attacked and seriously injured in Dublin last week has emerged from a coma, his family have said.
Stephen Termini (57), from Buffalo, New York, had been staying at a guest house on Talbot Street and was attacked on nearby Store Street on Wednesday of last week. Three teenage boys are facing charges for attacking Mr Termini, who was reported to have suffered life-changing injuries.
Mr Termini’s sons Mike and Jesse Rizzuto arrived in Dublin having raised funds for the trip through a GoFundMe appeal. Speaking on Friday on Virgin Media News, Mike Rizzuto said: “He’s awake, he’s actually out of coma thankfully, still don’t know about the eye.”
“We don’t know what’s to come with all of that but he’s out of the coma so that’s at least good. We’re just taking it hour by hour.
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“It’s still hard to put into words, I don’t think I have processed it yet, everyone here has been super helpful,” Mike Rizzuto said.
Jesse Rizzuto told RTÉ News the reaction from Irish people had been “nothing but the greatest” since their arrival.
“Everybody has reached out to us to say ‘you know, this isn’t what it’s like [in Ireland], we want to show you what it’s like’,” he said.
“I mean the donations, we never expected a turnout like this.
“We had it set for a smaller amount just to get us over here and see him, but I mean everybody that’s donated has left us comments as well like ‘hey, you know, so sorry’ or ‘hey, all the best for your family, this isn’t what Ireland’s really like and the people don’t stand behind that’.
“It’s amazing.”
Mr Rizzuto said doctors were “still trying to do everything they can” in relation to an eye injury his father suffered in the attack.
“So we’re leaving it up to their hands because they’re the professionals. As far as injuries go, yes, he’s improving,” he added.
By Saturday morning the GoFundMe account had raised €116,000 through donations from people who had contributed online.
Three teenage boys are facing charges for attacking the US tourist, who remains in Beaumont Hospital.
The alleged attackers, three boys aged 14, 15 and 16, were remanded on bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Thursday.
