CNN Photog Injured

[OffSticks]

Just wanted to let you all know that a friend of mine and fellow photog Emmanuel Tambakakis, is fighting for his life right now in an Athens hospital. No details yet but, he was hiking in the mountains of Greece when he fell and sustained a very serious head injury. He was airlifted to the hospital and is undergoing emergency brain surgery. Some of you may know him as he has worked in several different markets including Phoenix just before moving to NYC to work for CNN. Please send good vibes to a great guy.

[Lost in Alaska]

That sucks. I only know the name from printing the NPPA certificates. I hope he pulls out of this.

[JimmyS.]

Didn't know him... But, prayers for he and his family.

[Guy Critique]

I do know Emmanuel.
He is a quiet, gifted gentleman.
My thoughts are with him and his family.

[Guy Critique]

This is from his family-

on Friday while Emmanuel was on assignment on the tiny Greek island of Ikira (sp?) he was checking some satellite equipment, slipped and fell 20 feet off a cliff (not the 50 feet that has been going around) and hit the back of his head. He was moving and talking, but clearly had a head injury. The chartered a plane from the public health service and transported him to Athens where he arrived unconscious, though all his vital signs were strong. CT scans determined that he has a skull fracture and there was signficant bleeding in his skull and pressure on his brain. About midnight Friday he underwent surgery at a public hospital to relieve the pressure and clean out the clotted blood.
Everyone who has been with Emmanuel over these past few days feels confident the hospital's doctors have been excellet, but we are considering moving him to a privat hospital in the next few days to facilitate rehibilitation -- which is likely to be significant.
Considering the severity of the situation it seems we have been blessed to have family close by, wonderful friends and family who have lent their support and assistance, good medical care, as well as CNN's support and resources (Sanja Gupta has been working with doctors here) -- both of which are significant.

[Guy Critique]

Another update from his wife-

While the recovery process is still in the very early stages, the doctors seem satisfied with all early indicators. He is still heavily sedated, but once a day they withhold sedation and check his reactions. Today Emmanuel responded to pain on all limbs, but did not yet respond to oral commands. He also opened his eyes and moved his limbs on his own. The hospital administrator said that such injuries usually require an average of three weeks in the ICU. We are only allowed 30 minutes total of visitation per day. To me, he look better today than yesterday - the discoloration around his eyes was already going away and overall he looked more like himself.

[ntxshooter]

Thank you for the update. I worked with "ET" in Phoenix. Please keep us informed.

[phxvos]

Hello,

Things continue to improve. A doppler scan of Emmanuel's head shows very good (though not excellent) blood flow, and other positive signs. The doctors will take him off sedation starting tomorrow. Assuming he continues to improve, they will take him off the ventilator Wednesday. Things are positive, and I feel very good.

I cannot thank you enough for all the supportive emails, text messages and phone calls. People are doing amazing things for us including offering to travel to Greece, taking care of business back in NY, and much more. I have responded to very few of your wonderful messages, but please know that they sustain us through all of this and I appreciate them so much. I plan to bring some to read to Emmanuel starting tomorrow, and I can't wait for him to be able to read them himself.

Many thanks to Jennifer for starting this page, as well as all of your wonderful messages. Emmanuel will be so touched by it.

Please circulate this to anyone you think is interested in Emmanuel's progress. I keep waking in the middle of the night remembering yet another friend whom I have left off the list. If that is you, please accept my apologies!

So much love,

Emma

dont know him but our prayers are with him and his family......praying for a full and quick recovery

[104imdirect]

Last I heard - he's doing well!

[phxtvwatcher]

Just wondering how Emmanuel is doing. Does anyone have any info on his condition?


Thanks