UPDATE: A Long Island hospital security guard, 63-year-old Gardy Coriolan, is currently on life support after being brutally beaten by a patient. His family is urgently seeking answers and demanding justice following this shocking incident that has left them devastated.
Coriolan was attacked last Wednesday while serving as a police officer at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, where he dedicated 28 years to protecting others. His wife, Sonya Coriolan, revealed the heartbreaking news that doctors have reported he has 90% brain damage and may never wake up. “He was defending someone else, like he often did,” she said, emphasizing her husband’s commitment to the community.
The attack occurred when Eduard Lopez, 28, became violent in the hospital’s Emergency Room. Coriolan intervened to protect a doctor, leading to a brutal beating that sent him into cardiac arrest. His family is calling for Lopez to face attempted murder charges, citing the need for stricter penalties for attacks on hospital officers in New York.
“I just feel that laws should be passed,” Sonya stated, advocating for legal reforms to protect healthcare workers. The family has expressed concerns about the hospital’s staffing shortages, which Coriolan had warned could lead to violence. “One of his major concerns was, ‘the shortage of staff here is going to get someone hurt, or someone is going to die.’ And now, I’m living that,” Sonya said.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, with Lopez scheduled to appear in court tomorrow on a second-degree assault charge, which may be upgraded given Coriolan’s critical condition. The family is also seeking access to video footage of the attack.
As this story develops, the family is hoping for greater awareness and changes to ensure the safety of hospital staff. The community is rallying around them in this time of need, highlighting the emotional impact of such violence in healthcare settings.
Stay tuned for further updates on this urgent situation as it unfolds.
