Salman Rushdie is 'pulling through' and is 'feisty and defiant' after stabbing, family says - New York Post

Salman Rushdie is able to speak and retains his “feisty and defiant” sense of humor, his family said in a statement Sunday — as his ex-wife Padma Lakshmi expressed relief that the author was “pulling through” after being stabbed multiple times at a lecture in upstate New York.

The famed writer’s son confirmed reports that his father was off a ventilator after the Friday attack, and said that while he appears in good spirits, he remains in critical condition with “life changing injuries.”.

“My father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment,” Zafar Rushdie wrote in a statement.

Lakshmi, who was married to the the 74-year-old “Satanic Verses” author from 2004 to 2007, said she was “relieved” that he was on the mend after Friday’s “nightmare” in Chautauqua.

Wylie, who previously said Rushdie would likely lose an eye, did not return The Post’s request for comment Sunday.