UPDATE: Gay Chilean Who Was Attacked By Neo-Nazis Has Died

A gay young man, Daniel Zamudio, died Tuesday after a severe beating by a group of neo-Nazis in Chile, confirmed the Emergency Hospital authorities for Public Assistance.

According to Chilean newspaper published by the Emol, stressed that the young man was severely beaten because of his sexual orientation.

The hospital director, Emilio Villalon confirmed the death and expressed condolences to the family Zamudio.

Daniel Zamudio, 24 years old, was attacked by a group called "skinheads" on March 3 at the exit of a discotheque.

The young student was brutally beaten and spent several hours outdoors until located and transferred to the Central Hospital of Santiago.

On Sunday, in a ceremony organized by the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (MOVILH), Zamudio's mother, Jacqueline Vera said that after talking with the doctors, she learned that Daniel would be in a vegetative state should he survive .

"He's in critical condition. I resigned waiting to pass anything. We talked with the doctors who have told us that a cardiac arrest has induced Daniel into a vegetative state. He has no reaction, bedridden,and cannot do nothing, "said Vera to Canal 24 Horas.

The boy's father, Ivan Zamudio said that "we are resigned. We have had enough faith and courage to do what God wants."

They fear the worst

On Monday, the medical director of the Central Hospital, Emilio Villalon confirmed Zamudio was in critical life threatening.

Zamudio suffered a vicious attack by a Nazi group consisting of four individuals who are in the hands of the authorities. During the attack, and beatings with feet, fists and stones, the young gay man drew a swastika on his chest.

He also lost a piece of ear.

Since joining the hospital, doctors placed him in a induced coma. Two weeks later he was conscience. But days later he suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest and returned to place him under an induced coma.

Rolando Jimenez, president of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, told The Associated Press Zamudio suffered seizures as product of a "blow to the head, which made him convulse and biting the tube he had in his mouth and stopped receiving oxygen, causing cardiopulmonary arrest. "

The leader said that the rapid reaction of the medical staff of the Central Hospital, the main health center of Santiago emergency prevented the situation from further complicating Zamudio.

Irreversible damage

The initial medical report revealed that the boy also suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage which together with other injuries kept him several days in life-threatening condition.

Zamudio's father said that the attack was due to the sexual orientation of his son, who had already received death threats for being gay.

The family's attorney, Jaime Silva, said the four arrested for assault, two of which have a history of xenophobic attacks against Peruvian citizens, and one of them gave details of the role that fits everyone in the beating of young Zamudio.

Speaking to Radio DNA Santiago, Jaime Silva, Zamudio family lawyer, said that "if indeed it were to be triggered and doctors have proven to be the case, this clearly corresponds to reclassify the crime of frustrated homicide degree. If death comes to Daniel, this would be a crime of manslaughter consummated, that the law considers as one of the most serious and therefore sets the maximum penalty is imprisonment for life, ie 40 years effective prison before to apply for some kind of benefit."

One of the four arrested for the attack has acknowledged in court that Zamudio was beaten 10 times with a stone.

Visit of Vice

Last week Zamudio was visited at the Central Hospital by the vice president of Chile, Rodrigo Hinzpeter. The president said that these three weeks for parents, family and friends of the young man have been "pure hell", and all Chileans sympathized with the young man who remained in Critical Patient Unit Public Assistance, connected to mechanical ventilation.

Hinzpeter reiterated the condemnation of the government of "criminal aggression" suffered by the 24 years in a downtown park in the Chilean capital.

On Sunday, Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, one of the leading figures of the rights of homosexuals, he dedicated an award from the Gay and Lesbian Association Against Defamation (GLAAD) to Daniel Zamudio.

Martin took the opportunity to pay tribute to victims of homophobic violence in Latin America.

"Last night I won an important prize. A @ Glaad Award! What an honor! Much obliged. I would like to dedicate it to # DanielZamudio and your family! # Chile ", published in his Twitter profile.

The attack has shocked the country. The Senate asked the public prosecutor to punish those responsible. The Chamber of Deputies and several colonies living in Chile also joined in the condemnations.

Source: Noticias Univision.