Salman Rushdie is doing well but is still in serious condition

The British writer of Indian origin Salman Rushdie is progressing favorably from the stabbing he was the victim of last Friday during a presentation in New York, but his condition is still serious, his agent has made known in a statement.

As reported earlier this morning, his agent, Andrew Wylie, has indicated that Rushdie is no longer on a ventilator and "has begun the road to recovery."

However, Wylie has predicted that Rushdie has a "long road" to recovery because "the injuries are serious, although his condition is progressing in the right direction," according to a statement collected by Sky News.

The writer's son, Zafar, has thanked the emergency services for their work in another statement published this Sunday in which he assures that his father is in high spirits despite the seriousness of his condition.

Despite the severity of these life-changing injuries, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humor remains intact.

The statement, on behalf of the family, expresses its gratitude to "audience members who courageously jumped to their defense", as well as to the police, doctors and for the outpouring of "affection and support from around the world".

The writer, it should be remembered, remains in a Pennsylvania hospital with at least twelve confirmed stab wounds to the face, neck, liver, chest and abdomen.

The man accused of stabbing him, Hadi Matar, pleaded not guilty earlier in the day on Saturday to charges of attempted murder and assault. An attorney for Matar, 24, pleaded guilty on his behalf during a formal court hearing in western New York.