After a stroke and coma at a hospital in Cork, 38-year-old Denis Vejzović has been transferred to Zagreb University Hospital Centre. His mother Hatidža Muminović thanked everyone who helped.
Denis Vejzović (38), a man from Rijeka who suffered a stroke in Ireland in early July and fell into a coma, has been transported to Croatia and admitted to Zagreb University Hospital Centre (Rebro). His mother, Hatidža Muminović, confirmed to 24sata that the transport went professionally and that she is now a bit calmer.
On July 7, 2026, Denis had a completely ordinary morning. He had breakfast at home with his wife, and nothing indicated that just minutes later their lives would change forever. "Denis suddenly felt unwell. He said he was dizzy and couldn't see well. He called his wife, and she immediately called an ambulance, but in the meantime he collapsed on the bed. They rushed him to the hospital, he underwent surgery, and he has been in a coma ever since," his friend Dino recounted.
At the hospital in Cork, doctors told the family that, based on his medical records, they did not believe he would recover and that further treatment with the help of machines was futile. They wanted to disconnect him from the life support machines. "Yesterday, at the meeting, they made it clear that, in their opinion, his condition would not change in the next 72 hours. They said we would meet again with the neurosurgeon and the medical team. I asked them if that meant they could turn off the machines without my consent. They said they could," his mother Hatidža said.
After the media published the story, the Ministry of Health became aware of the case. The family contacted the Croatian Embassy in Ireland, and the process of transporting him to a Croatian hospital was initiated. Denis arrived in Croatia on August 17, 2026, and was admitted to Zagreb University Hospital Centre.
"Rebro Hospital is like a five-star hotel compared to where he was. We saw him, they took blood and are running tests. We don't know yet how the treatment will progress," his mother added. "It's not easy watching your child on machines. The transport went great, everything by the book. First, they took him to the ER, then to the plane, and then to the hospital. I'm satisfied with the service."
Zagreb University Hospital Centre confirmed that the patient has been admitted, but due to patient rights protection, they cannot disclose his medical condition. "In accordance with the rules on patient rights protection, data confidentiality, and the professional obligation to safeguard information related to healthcare, Zagreb University Hospital Centre is not in a position to provide or comment on additional information about an individual patient. This applies to information about the patient's health condition, diagnosis, medical findings and procedures, the course and outcome of treatment, as well as other circumstances related to the provision of healthcare," their statement reads.
Denis is being fed through a feeding tube and is connected to all necessary machines. The family has thanked everyone who helped them in this stressful situation, including the media who brought the story to public attention.
