Anthony Borges, 15, was rushed back to intensive care at Broward General Medical Center in Florida on Wednesday night to under multiple surgeries for a potential abdominal infection
A 15-year-old student who was severely injured while protecting his classmates from gunfire in the Florida school shooting has taken a turn for the worst in hospital.
Anthony Borges was rushed back to intensive care at Broward General Medical Center on Wednesday night and underwent multiple surgeries for a potential infection in his abdomen.
The teenager is the only victim still in hospital following the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Anthony was hailed as a hero in the aftermath of the shooting after he was credited with saving the lives of at least 20 other students.
He was shot in both legs and his back while attempting to close and lock a classroom door as the gunman opened fire, killing 17 people.
His father Royer Borges said doctors noticed a small ulcer on a section of the teen’s intestines and a possible abdominal infection from the impact of one of the bullets.
‘So they decided to intervene and cut that section of the small intestine so that my son’s life wasn’t further compromised,’ he wrote on Facebook.
Anthony is the only victim still in hospital following the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. He is pictured above with Sheriff Scott Israel
‘They will make three or four more trips to the operating room during these coming days. They want to make sure they clean well and that all his organs are out of danger.’
A spokeswoman for Broward Health confirmed that Anthony had returned to the ICU for further treatment.
It comes just days after his family became the first to file a lawsuit against authorities in the wake of the deadly shooting.
A lawyer for Anthony and his family said the sheriff’s office, the school resource officer, the Broward County school system and the principal failed to protect students from the teen gunman.
‘The failure of Broward County Public Schools, and of the principal and school resource officer to adequately protect students, and in particular our client, from life-threatening harm were unreasonable, callous and negligent,’ attorney Alex Arreaza wrote in the lawsuit notice on Monday.
Anthony was hailed as a hero in the aftermath of the shooting after he was credited with saving the lives of at least 20 other students
‘Such action or inaction led to the personal injuries sustained by my client.’
The lawsuit is likely to be the first of many filed by survivors and victims’ families.
Arreaza said Borges was hit five times, still can’t walk and has ‘a great deal of difficulty performing rudimentary tasks for himself.’
He added that Borges had undergone several surgeries and is still a ‘very long way’ to recovery.
‘By the grace of God he’s not No. 18,’ Borges’ attorney Alex Arreaza said. ‘But it’s going to be a tough recovery… it’s a miracle that we’re even talking about recovery.’
Anthony’s attorney said his medical bills would definitely exceed $1million and that they would be suing for damages to be determined at a later date.