Salman Rushdie makes first public appearance since attack, praising ‘heroes’ who saved him

A surprise speaker at the Pen America gala, the author said if it had not been for these people, I most certainly would not be standing here'

Salman Rushdie has made his first public appearance since he was stabbed and lost sight in one eye after being attacked at a literary event, joking that it was nice to be back - as opposed to not being back, which was also an option".

Rushdie was a surprise attendee at the Pen America gala on Thursday night in New York. The author was greeted with a standing ovation according to the New York Times. After his remarks about being back, he said he was pretty glad the dice rolled this way".