Hadi Matar, right, is pictured with Public Defender Nathaniel Barone Tuesday in court. Barone was not in court last week due to medical issues, which included him being hospitalized.

MAYVILLE – The trauma surgeon who treated a world-renowned author after being stabbed multiple times at Chautauqua Institution two and half years ago said the patient could have easily died had he not been given proper treatment.

On Tuesday, the trial of Hadi Matar resumed. Matar is accused of attempting to stab to death Salman Rushdie during a presentation at the Institution in 2022.

Dr. Gregory Beard was the trauma surgeon who treated Rushdie at UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie, Pa.

Rushdie has written more than 20 books, both fiction and non-fiction and won multiple awards. But Beard was not informed of the patient’s identity – only that he would be treating a level 1 trauma patient, the highest level of care needed.

Beard described Rushdie’s numerous injuries to the jury and members present in the court. Those included injuries to his eye, multiple lacerations on the right side of his body, three injuries to his neck, and other stab wounds. One of the injuries went to Rushdie’s liver and another injured his bowel.

He had a severe cut to the palm of his hand, which went through some of his tendons. The nerves in his fingers were lacerated.

Rushdie had lost a lot of blood and was given a transfusion before arriving at the trauma center.

“Obviously there was a risk of bleeding to death and that is always a concern for trauma patients,” Beard said from the witness stand.

Because Rushdie was provided blood before arriving at the trauma center, Beard said he was uncertain of how much blood Rushdie had actually lost.

Still, the blood was significant enough that Rushdie’s blood pressure was below what it should have been for a person of his age, 75 at the time of the incident.

Rushdie was immediately taken to the operating room for surgery. “Had we not been able to get him to the OR, that could have been fatal,” Beard said.

Part of Rushdie’s bowel had to be removed and reconnected. His colon needed to be repaired as well due to it leaking.

Rushdie remained in the hospital for 17 days following the attack.

During the defense’s questioning, they noted that none of the injuries affected Rushdie’s major arteries, lungs or heart, which Beard agreed.

Beard testified in total for about 45 minutes Tuesday morning.