John Kerry limps home: Secretary of State leaves hospital on crutches 12 days after breaking his leg in Alps cycling accident
- John Kerry, 71, was cycling near Geneva on May 31 when he hit a curb
- The Secretary of State fell off his bike and suffered fracture to his femur
- On June 2, he underwent operation at Massachusetts General Hospital
- On Friday, he emerged from the facility on two crutches, looking pained
- He told reporters he had not missed a tick on key foreign policy issues
- Vowed to be 'absolutely engaged' in US nuclear negotiations with Iran
With a pained yet determined expression on his face, Secretary of State John Kerry limped out of a Boston, Massachusetts, hospital on Friday - 10 days after undergoing surgery for a broken leg.
The 71-year-old politician sustained the fracture to his right femur after his bike struck a curb and he crashed to the ground on a regular Tour de France route near Geneva, Switzerland, on May 31.
On Friday afternoon, he emerged from Massachusetts General Hospital on two crutches following a four-hour operation on the fracture on June 2. He wore sneakers on his feet and appeared pale.
Kerry then limped over to a microphone to address the media alongside his medical team. He told reporters that despite his spell in hospital, he had not missed a tick on key foreign policy issues.
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Recovering: With a pained, yet determined expression on his face, Secretary of State John Kerry limped out of a Boston, Massachusetts, hospital on Friday (above) - 10 days after undergoing surgery for a broken leg
Hospital release: The 71-year-old politician sustained the fracture to his right femur after his bike struck a curb and he crashed to the ground on a regular Tour de France route near Geneva, Switzerland, on May 31. Above, Kerry is pictured emerging from the hospital on crutches (left) before speaking to the press (right)
Working hard: Kerry declared that despite his injury, he has 'not missed a tick' on key foreign policy issues
He said he planned to go to his nearby home in the Beacon Hill neighborhood for a few days, before traveling to Washington D.C. next week. And he even plans to travel overseas later in the month.
Kerry promised to be 'absolutely, totally and fully engaged' in America's nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying he remains confident that the June 30 timetable for completing a deal could be achieved.
He said he would likely join in the discussions abroad late June as they neared a critical juncture.
'I will be absolutely, fully and totally engaged in those talks. I am now. I haven't missed a tick,' he said. 'Our team is in Vienna right now working out very complex... details of this agreement.'
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He added: 'It's a tough slog. It's not easy.'
One of the central questions after Kerry's fall last month was whether it would affect negotiations between Iran and six major powers seeking to strike an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program.
This would be done in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The United States suspects that Iran is using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop a nuclear weapons capability.
Iran denies this, saying its program is for peaceful purposes, such as making medical isotopes.
Medical team: Kerry points to Dr Dennis Burke (left) while speaking to reporters outside Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday afternoon. Dr Burke performed surgery on the politician's broken leg on June 2
Vow: The politician promised to be 'absolutely, totally and fully engaged' in America's nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying he remains confident that the June 30 timetable for completing a deal could be achieved
Kerry was injured on May 31 when he fell off his bike on the route southeast of Geneva. He was taken by helicopter to a hospital in the region, where X-rays confirmed the fracture of his femur.
The former U.S. senator from Massachusetts was later flown to Boston via military aircraft for surgery. Dr Dennis Burke, an orthopedic surgeon, said Kerry's recovery has been uncomplicated.
'He is ambulating independently on crutches and working hard with physical therapy toward a full recovery, which we anticipate will occur in several months' time,' Dr Burke said in a statement.
Kerry said he has been working the phones and spoke with President Barack Obama and other top administration officials on Thursday about issues including efforts to help Iraq stop ISIS advances.
On the mend: The photo shows Kerry in his room at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on Tuesday. He has his right leg propped up and is talking on the phone with national security adviser Susan Rice
'We are making some critical decisions that are going to move the process forward in Iraq,' he said. 'Prime Minister (Haider) al-Abadi has a plan. We support the plan and were part of the plan.'
Kerry, who is an avid cyclist who often takes his bike abroad, also acknowledged that the U.S. could be more 'self-critical' about its role and improve on communications within the coalition.
On Friday, the politician said that while he expects to remain on crutches for some time, he hopes to return to cycling. He added that his experience in hospital has given him some 'clarity'.
'The one big thing I will tell you about being on my back for a few days is that it gives you time to think,' he said. 'I've had a lot of time to think about some of the challenges we face.'
Avid cyclist: Kerry, who had hip replacement surgery several years ago, cycles near Geneva on March 18
Flown back: Fire trucks block the view of the ramp for the military plane carrying U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at Logan International Airport in Boston, Monday, June 1, after his flight from France
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Kerry's discharge from the hospital at 55 Fruit Street in Boston indicates the politician's determination to get back to his office and return to work.
'The truth is he probably benefited from a little rest when he was in the hospital,' Earnest said.
On June 9, Kerry tweeted a photo of himself talking on the phone in hospital, donning a denim shirt and blue hospital scrubs. Alongside the picture, he wrote: 'Feeling good a week after surgery. Good chats today w/Ambassador Rice & @StateDept senior team. The work continues.'
Kerry will likely have fully recovered from his injury 'in several months' time'.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3122441/John-Kerry-limps-home-Secretary-State-leaves-hospital-crutches-12-days-breaking-leg-Alps-cycling-accident.html#ixzz3e5A1HSac
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