Last week, on 30 September, US death row inmate Christa Pike survived two lethal injections.And her lawyers have now said she is ‘conscious and speaking’ as a doctor has revealed what she has said since awaking from the failed execution.”She has some memories of being in the hospital but no memory, I believe, of the execution attempt,” Dr Joel Zivot, the anaesthesiologist advising her team told the BBC.He said that she can recall her name and can communicate in a ‘basic way’. Dr Zivot added that she had made an incorrect guess at the date, as she seemed to believe the month was still September.It’s believed that Pike, who was sentenced to death after murdering Colleen Slemmer with her then-boyfriend in 1995, is the only person to survive a lethal injection.
Her legal team said in a statement: “Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care. Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed.”Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery.”Dr Zivot said the development ‘bodes well for a good recovery. But he said that it could be weeks or months before anyone knows exactly what Pike’s recovery might look like.