Polish student airlifted from China in stable condition

A 24-year-old Polish woman who was flown home from Beijing in a medical evacuation is now in stable condition at a military hospital in Wrocław.

A government aircraft carrying a medically evacuated Polish student lands in Wrocław on Wednesday.

Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński

Klaudia, from Wałbrzych in southern Poland, had completed her undergraduate degree at home before moving to China to continue her studies.

She was hospitalised in Beijing in mid-April after developing a rare complication of an ovarian tumour – autoimmune encephalitis – followed by further complications including thrombosis.

A Polish military aircraft brought her home on Wednesday after a 14-hour flight, landing in Wrocław where she was transferred to the Fourth Military Clinical Hospital.

Her mother, who accompanied her on the journey, said Klaudia had coped well with the trip.

Doctors are now conducting further tests and consulting specialists, including surgeons.

According to Polish tabloid Fakt, her condition is described as stable.

The evacuation required diplomatic efforts.

Poland's deputy foreign minister said securing Chinese administrative approval, including permission for an ambulance to drive directly to the aircraft, had been among the key logistical challenges.

Commercial insurance did not cover the costs of treatment or transport, so the Polish government stepped in to organise the flight.

Money raised by Klaudia's family through a public fundraiser will now go towards her rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, a leading oncologist urged the public not to be alarmed by the woman's case.

Prof. Paweł Derlatka of the National Oncology Institute in Warsaw told the Polish news agency PAP the vast majority of ovarian teratomas are benign, and that most patients return to normal life after treatment.

(ał)

Source: PAP, wp.pl