Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva canceled his trip to Russia for the BRICS summit on Sunday after suffering a mild brain hemorrhage after falling at home.
The presidential palace said in a statement that Lula, 78, will participate via video conference after receiving medical advice to temporarily avoid long-haul flights. He was originally scheduled to leave on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Lula's doctor, Roberto Calil, said in an interview with the Globo News TV channel that the president suffered a “major” trauma to the back of his head in the fall, which required stitches, and a “small cerebral hemorrhage” in his temporal frontal region. He said he was injured. .
“This condition will require repeat testing this week. In theory, a brain hemorrhage could get worse the next day, so observation is important,” Khalil said, adding that Lula was doing well. He added that he was able to carry out normal activities.
Lula suffered a laceration to the “occiput” on the back of his head on Saturday, according to a medical report issued early Sunday by Brasilia's Sirio Libanes Hospital.
Lula was “advised to avoid long-distance air travel, but is otherwise able to carry out his normal duties,” the report said.
The government announced that Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira has been appointed to head the Brazilian delegation to the BRICS summit, which departs on Sunday.
Gleici Hoffmann, leader of Lula's Labor Party and a member of the lower house of parliament, said she had spoken to the president and said: “He is in very good spirits, having just avoided a long journey.”
