Noted author Salman Rushdie, who has been hospitalised after he suffered serious injuries after he was stabbing repeatedly at a public appearance in New York, has began the "road to recovery."
According to a Reuters report, Rushdie's agent Andrew Wylie said the author is "off the ventilator, so the road to recovery has begun."
"It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his condition is headed in the right direction," Wylie said.
Rushdie's injuries include three stab wounds to the right side of the front of his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, a puncture wound to his right eye and chest, and a laceration on his right thigh.
Wylie had, in a statement to NYT earlier said, "The news is not good. Salman will likely lose one eye, the nerves in his arm were severed, and his liver was stabbed and damaged."
Rushdie, who faced Islamist death threats for years after writing 'The Satanic Verses', was stabbed by a 24-year-old New Jersey resident identified as Hadi Matar, a US national of Lebanese origin, on stage on Friday while he was being introduced at a literary event of the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York.
Matar was charged with attempted murder and assault in the stabbing of Rushdie and he pleaded not guilty.
The attack drew shock and condemnation from world leaders and literary stalwarts.
—With inputs from agencies
