Rodrigo firefighter Guilherme Rocha Altino, 49, returned to Asa Norte Regional Hospital, on Thursday (30), still having difficulty walking. Limping, he returned to the unit only to change the dressing of the burns left by the lightning that struck him during the event held by the deputy (PL-MG), in .
Rodrigo on Sunday (25), with 47 of them needing treatment in emergency care units. He was one of the most serious cases, and he couldn’t feel his legs after being hit.
He also had a burn in the pubic area and was hospitalized, only being discharged on Monday (26). “When I pushed, my legs were inert and my wife noticed bleeding in the pubic area,” he said.
Doctors explained to Rodrigo that the persistent pain and difficulty walking resulted from a severe muscle contracture caused by the electrical discharge, which resulted in a high production of lactic acid. Dressings are changed every four days.
He said he had been waiting for about an hour. He was with his wife and close relatives, under the protection of an umbrella, like other participants in the event, about two meters away from the fence. The flash came suddenly, followed by a deafening crash.
“It was a single lightning strike at the location that occurred, before there was no signage”, he reported, highlighting that there was no prior guidance for removal from the location.
Within seconds, Rodrigo’s body was thrown to the ground along with those of other people. He reports that everyone fell on top of each other, some unconscious. Many people got to know him.
Driven by professional instinct, he tried to get up to help, but realized he couldn’t feel his legs while part of the crowd stood up and tried to understand what had happened.
The rescue had the help of members of the public, who took him to a safer location where he was immobilized by professional colleagues and taken to medical care.
When asked what led him to the event, the firefighter mentioned that it was the current political scenario and widespread dissatisfaction. For him, his presence at the event was a way of expressing discontent, exercising what he considers a constitutional right to demand changes.
Among the reasons, he cited the situation of the former president (PL), classifying the arrests related to the January 8 attacks as unjustified. He also stated that he has been following Nikolas’ work since before the 2018 elections, out of ideological affinity.
He explains that this was not the first time he participated in acts. He confirmed that he had already been to other demonstrations in the square and to vigils at the HQ (Headquarters) on two occasions before January 8th, a date on which he highlighted that he was not present.
Despite the scare and temporary physical limitations, he states that he would not hesitate to participate in future mobilizations, as long as they are orderly and within the law. “For what the event was, for the discharge it was, I’m 120%”, he concluded, demonstrating optimism in his recovery.
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