Doctors unable to save mayor in 4 hours of surgery

NAGASAKI--His wife and family members held his hands and voiced words of encouragement. But Iccho Itoh never regained consciousness.

At 2:28 a.m. Wednesday, after fours hours of emergency surgery and with his family members at his side, the Nagasaki mayor was pronounced dead.

"We did our best, but unfortunately he died," Katsumi Eguchi, director of Nagasaki University Hospital, told reporters.

The two bullets fired into Itoh's back on Tuesday night caused irreparable damage.

When Itoh, 61, arrived at Nagasaki University Hospital sometime after 8 p.m, his heart and lungs had already stopped functioning, officials said.

His wife, Toyoko, and other family members arrived at 8:40 p.m. and surgery began 10 minutes later.

After placing Itoh on a heart-lung machine, doctors tried to stop the internal bleeding.

The surgery ended at 12:50 a.m. By 2 a.m., Toyoko and other family members were allowed to see Itoh in the intensive care unit.

They held his hands and spoke to him, saying, "Keep up your spirits."

His physical condition did not improve.

At around 2:20 a.m., his family was again brought into the room. Eight minutes later, the doctors delivered the sad news.

"He did his best as mayor. I am sorry his end has come to this," a family member said afterward.

Some exhausted and distraught family members had to be aided by nurses.

Hospital officials informed reporters about the death of the mayor at 4:30 a.m.

The morning and afternoon in Nagasaki were filled with mourning and questions.

At 9:10 a.m., employees and visitors at city government offices stood in silence for one minute in remembrance of the three-term governor.

By 10 a.m., condolence books had been placed at 19 locations around the city for citizens to sign their names and write messages in honor of Itoh.

A long line of visitors formed in front of city hall to sign the book.

"Why is it so easy to obtain a gun?" a 49-year-old company employee said. "I cannot help feeling sad about this."

Many people also paid condolence visits to an office of a group that had supported Itoh's re-election campaign.

On Wednesday at 9 a.m., Nagasaki municipal government division chiefs met for an emergency meeting and discussed the slaying.

"Such a vicious act can never be forgiven. I am very angry," Vice Mayor Nobuhiro Uchida told the meeting.

In front of Itoh's usual seat at the conference table, someone placed a spray of sweet pea blossoms. Several people at the meeting wept and wiped away tears with their handkerchiefs.