Wilfing leaves intensive care after cardiac arrest

Lower Austria state parliament President Karl Wilfing has left the intensive care unit after suffering a cardiac arrest, ORF reported on Saturday. His condition has improved significantly in recent days, according to a statement from Lower Austria Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

Wilfing will focus on rehabilitation in the coming weeks and needs rest in the meantime. His family has asked people not to visit him.

Wilfing suffered the cardiac arrest on Monday during a cycling trip in the Thayatal, apparently because of a severe heart rhythm disorder that caused circulatory collapse. He was flown to hospital and treated in intensive care. He regained consciousness the following day.

“I am very grateful for the rapid help at the scene, the excellent medical care and the many get-well messages I have received in recent days,” Wilfing said in the statement. “They give me enormous strength, and I am already looking forward to returning to the state parliament soon.”

Mikl-Leitner, who personally visited Wilfing to wish him well, said she was delighted that he was recovering after the shock and concern of recent days. “The only thing that matters now is that Wilfing gets healthy again,” she said.