Mystery man awoke speaking Swedish
Source: Agencies |
July 17, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FOUR months after a Florida man was found unconscious in a Palm Springs, California, motel, doctors are looking into the mystery of his identity after he awoke with no memory of his past and speaking Swedish.
Michael Boatwright, 61, woke up with amnesia, calling himself Johan Ek, The Desert Sun newspaper reported. Boatwright was found unconscious in a Motel 6 room in February. He was transported to the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs where he woke up.
Hospital officials said Boatwright may have been in town for a tennis tournament in the Coachella Valley. He was found with a duffel bag of exercise clothes, a backpack and tennis rackets. He also carried four forms of identification - a passport, a California identification card, a veteran's medical card and a social security card - all of which identified him as Michael Thomas Boatwright.
Palm Springs police have documented his information in case anyone lists Boatwright as missing or wanted.
In March, doctors diagnosed him with Transient Global Amnesia, a condition triggered by physical or emotional trauma that can last months.
The rare disorder is characterized by memory loss, "sudden, unplanned travel," and possible adoption of a new identity.
After an extensive search, medical personnel and social workers have been unable to locate Boatwright's next of kin. Authorities are still unsure of his birthplace, listed on his ID as Florida - photos show him in Sweden at a young age.
No income or insurance
Boatwright doesn't recall how to exchange money, take public transportation, or seek temporary housing like homeless shelters or hotels, the social worker assigned to his case, Lisa Hunt-Vasquez, told the Sun.
He doesn't remember his son and two ex-wives, either.
Boatwright has no income or insurance, further complicating his treatment. And he has little money he can access - only US$180. He also has Chinese bank accounts, but can only access one account, which holds US$7, according to the newspaper.
Doctors don't know how much longer he will be able to stay at the center. Aside from his amnesia, Boatwright is in good health. For now, he is unsure of both his past and his future.
"Sometimes it makes me really sad and sometimes it just makes me furious about the whole situation and the fact that I don't know anybody, I don't recognize anybody," Boatwright told the newspaper.
Michael Boatwright, 61, woke up with amnesia, calling himself Johan Ek, The Desert Sun newspaper reported. Boatwright was found unconscious in a Motel 6 room in February. He was transported to the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs where he woke up.
Hospital officials said Boatwright may have been in town for a tennis tournament in the Coachella Valley. He was found with a duffel bag of exercise clothes, a backpack and tennis rackets. He also carried four forms of identification - a passport, a California identification card, a veteran's medical card and a social security card - all of which identified him as Michael Thomas Boatwright.
Palm Springs police have documented his information in case anyone lists Boatwright as missing or wanted.
In March, doctors diagnosed him with Transient Global Amnesia, a condition triggered by physical or emotional trauma that can last months.
The rare disorder is characterized by memory loss, "sudden, unplanned travel," and possible adoption of a new identity.
After an extensive search, medical personnel and social workers have been unable to locate Boatwright's next of kin. Authorities are still unsure of his birthplace, listed on his ID as Florida - photos show him in Sweden at a young age.
No income or insurance
Boatwright doesn't recall how to exchange money, take public transportation, or seek temporary housing like homeless shelters or hotels, the social worker assigned to his case, Lisa Hunt-Vasquez, told the Sun.
He doesn't remember his son and two ex-wives, either.
Boatwright has no income or insurance, further complicating his treatment. And he has little money he can access - only US$180. He also has Chinese bank accounts, but can only access one account, which holds US$7, according to the newspaper.
Doctors don't know how much longer he will be able to stay at the center. Aside from his amnesia, Boatwright is in good health. For now, he is unsure of both his past and his future.
"Sometimes it makes me really sad and sometimes it just makes me furious about the whole situation and the fact that I don't know anybody, I don't recognize anybody," Boatwright told the newspaper.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
