Giuliani turned off the ventilator and is now breathing on his own, the doctor said
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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is breathing on his own after being taken off a ventilator, his doctor said, adding that he has “9 lives” following a dramatic turnaround in his condition.
Dr. Maria Ryan told Fox News reporter Danamarie McNicholl that Giuliani became ill after returning from a trip to Paris, and his breathing became so severe that he needed to be hospitalized and put on a ventilator.
Ryan said his condition took a turn for the worse, prompting a priest to be called to his bedside to perform last rites.
However, by Tuesday, his condition had improved enough for doctors to take him off the ventilator. He is now breathing independently and able to speak, although he is in a critical but stable condition.
RUDY GIULIANI WAS ARRESTED BY COURT IN 2020.
Rudy Giuliani attends the annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City on September 11, 2025, honoring the victims of the 24th year of terrorist attacks. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“He’s a hero – the way he was yesterday in such a critical situation, a priest came and anointed him,” Ryan told Fox News. “And all the prayers from the surrounding areas – it’s like a miracle. This boy has 9 health, today he is doing much better.”
Ryan said he expects Giuliani to make a full recovery.
Giuliani’s spokesman also pointed to his medical history following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when he was exposed to debris while responding to Ground Zero, which later led to a diagnosis of obstructive airways disease.
BERNARD KERIK, FORMER NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER AND 9/11 EVENT, DIES AT 69
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attends the annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City in September 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
In a video shared on X, Ted Goodman said Giuliani is now “breathing on his own” and is in “critical but stable condition.”
“Mayor Rudy Giuliani is a great fighter,” Goodman said.
The update comes after Giuliani was admitted to hospital with difficulty breathing, sparking concern over his condition. Earlier, his team said that he is in a critical but stable condition.
RUDY GIULIANI HOSPITALIZED IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE: “He’s under orders”
Giuliani, 81, has faced many health challenges in recent years but is still active in public life.
He previously made headlines after being seriously injured in a car accident in New Hampshire in August 2025. Authorities said the car he was riding in was rear-ended on Interstate 93 in Manchester, leaving him with a broken thoracic spine, multiple bruises and other injuries.
Despite those setbacks, Giuliani returned to work and continued to be in the public eye in the months that followed.
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Ryan said the latest development marks a turning point in his recovery, although doctors will continue to monitor his condition closely in the coming days.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
