Otto Warmbier returned to his home state of Ohio this week after 17 months of captivity in North Korea, the circumstances of which are still unknown.
“It’s tempting to dwell on what we’ve lost in this moment, on all the time we won’t get to spend with a warm, engaging, intelligent young guy whose curiosity and zest for life had no limitations. However, we have chosen to concentrate on the time we have been given to be with this extraordinary person “In a statement, his family expressed their condolences.
The young guy who arrived in Cincinnati wasn’t the same person who departed on a vacation to discover the mysterious nation a year and a half ago.
Warmbier did not speak, move in any meaningful manner, or react to vocal communication before to his death. Doctors described his state as “unresponsive wakefulness” during a press briefing, and indicated that he had sustained substantial brain damage while imprisoned.
Otto Warmbier Cause of death
The North Korean authorities blamed Warmbier’s sickness on botulism, but experts claimed they found no trace of the disease in the now 22-year-old.
Otto Warmbier was merely an adventurous college student until his imprisonment grabbed worldwide news.
Who was Otto Warmbier?
Otto Warmbier was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, parents Cindy and Fred Warmbier, in the same city where he is currently hospitalized.
He succeeded academically, graduating as salutatorian of his class from Wyoming High School in 2013 and receiving a scholarship to the University of Virginia. He was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and studied business and economics there.
According to all accounts, Warmbier was a meticulous planner. Someone who would always put family and homework ahead of social activities.
“There was literally nothing you could say to Otto to get him to do activities with you if he had anything schoolwork-related, job-related, family-related,” Otto’s buddy Ned Ende told the Washington Post.
But, rather of graduating with the rest of his class in May, Warmbier remained in North Korea.
It wasn’t in the plan at all.
Otto Warmbier in North Korea
Warmbier signed up for a trip to North Korea with the Young Pioneer Tours travel organization in the spring of 2016, a firm that brings people to areas they wouldn’t ordinarily go.
Otto’s roommate on the trip, Danny Gratton, told the Washington Post, “Otto was simply a very wonderful guy.”
“Otto became a close friend of mine. He was a very mature young man for his age.”
Warmbier may be seen laughing and having fun in photos and videos from his stay in North Korea.
During the ride, Warmbier may be seen smiling and tossing a snowball.
In this snapshot from his journey to North Korea, Otto Warmbier, fourth from right in a blue jacket, tosses a snowball.
In this snapshot from his journey to North Korea, Otto Warmbier, fourth from right in a blue jacket, tosses a snowball.
Warmbier’s brother Austin told CNN affiliate WCPO, “This is the Otto I know and love.” “This is my brother,” says the narrator.
The tour was planned to last five days in total. After leaving North Korea, Warmbier planned to go to Beijing, China.
However, when he attempted to leave Pyongyang’s airport, he was halted by security.
Warmbier was jailed, according to the North Korean authorities, when he snuck into a restricted level of his hotel and stole a political poster.
Warmbier was distressed the next time the world saw him, crying down in front of Korean journalists in a video released by North Korea in February 2016. He confessed to the crime and pleaded for pardon and freedom. It’s unclear whether his confession was voluntary.
Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his claimed offense. He was held in North Korea for 17 months before being freed. He was flown to the United States on a medical plane.
His condition was grave, according to specialists at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and he had substantial tissue loss in all areas of his brain.
The events that led to his being in that situation are still unknown.
Warmbier’s family announced in a statement announcing his death that he had finished his trip home and was now at rest.
“Unfortunately, the horrific torture our son endured at the hands of the North Koreans insured that no other ending was imaginable than the tragic one we saw today.”
Mckourage