Chicago’s ‘Walking Man’ heads to rehab facility nearly 4 months after being set on fire downtown

CHICAGO (WLS) — Joseph Kromelis – the famed “Strolling Man” of downtown Chicago – has been discharged from the hospital to a rehab facility almost 4 months after he was set on hearth whereas sleeping close to Trump Tower.

Kromelis is anticipated to bear further surgical procedures as a part of his restoration, in line with Prepare dinner County Well being spokeswoman Alexandra Normington. He mentioned he’s grateful for everybody’s concern and asks that his privateness be revered.

The video featured is from a earlier report.

Kromelis suffered third-degree burns to greater than half of his physique when he was doused with gasoline and set on hearth Might 25. Docs mentioned on the time that he could be unable to recuperate from the accidents.

“When folks survive these burn accidents, in contrast to lots of different traumatic accidents, burn accidents take a distinctly lengthy and arduous course of to deal with and recuperate from,” mentioned Dr. Joshua Carson, Director of Loyola Drugs’s Burn Heart.

Chicago Strolling Man’s situation upgraded almost a month after he was set on hearth

A 3rd-degree damage burns all over the pores and skin, which means it could be unable to heal by itself. Even a small one can stick with you for a very long time, Carson mentioned.

“Burns that enormous are extremely poisonous to the physique so the factor about them is that the burn being there makes the affected person sick, after which it’s important to take away them,” Carson added. “Whenever you do that you just go away the affected person with out some important organ perform, And that makes a affected person very weak to an infection and to other forms of issues.”

Joseph Guardia, 27, has been charged with attacking Kromelis. He has provided no motive to police aside from he’s an “indignant individual,” in line with prosecutors.

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Kromelis had been sleeping below blankets within the 400 block of North Decrease Wabash Avenue when surveillance cameras captured Guardia stroll up and stand over him silently for 16 seconds, prosecutors mentioned.

The video allegedly exhibits Guardia pour gasoline over Kromelis’ uncovered head and ignite it.

Guardia left as Kromelis’ total higher physique was engulfed in flames, prosecutors mentioned. Kromelis tried to place out the hearth however lastly slumped in opposition to a storage door. Two safety guards from Trump Tower got here to his assist earlier than an ambulance arrived.

“We have now to hope for the perfect for the person – he’s on a really lengthy path,” Carson mentioned.

Kromelis is well-known to individuals who frequent downtown Chicago, simply acknowledged by his tall body, placing facial options, lengthy flowing hair and bushy mustache.

Six years in the past – on Might 24, 2016 – he was brutally crushed by somebody with a baseball bat within the 400 block of East Decrease Wacker Drive. The 2 had been struggling over the bat when police arrived.

The Solar-Instances Media Wire contributed to this report.