Doctors investigate Czech clue in 'Piano Man' case
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Doctors caring for the Piano Man, the talented but silent musician found on the Kent coast seven weeks ago, will seek to confirm his identity this week as a formally trained Czech pianist.
Doctors caring for the Piano Man, the talented but silent musician found on the Kent coast seven weeks ago, will seek to confirm his identity this week as a formally trained Czech pianist.
Using information obtained by The Independent, staff looking after the patient, who has not said a word since he was found in wet clothes, will try to establish if he is Tomas Strnad, the son of a Prague dentist with an ability to play classical music from memory.
Since his discovery on 7 April, the only means of expression used by Piano Man has been to draw pictures of a piano and play the instrument from memory.
Doctors at the West Kent NHS Trust, who are sifting through dozens of suggested identities from around the world, hope that using word association will gently trigger memories to see if their patient is Mr Strnad.
The move comes after members of a Prague rock band formed by Mr Strnad contacted The Independent last week to point out similarities between Piano Man and the 6ft-tall Czech musician, whom they described as a "lonely genius".
Klaudius Kryspin, 38, who went on to join a famous Czech Republic rock group, Prazsky Vyber, said he became convinced of Piano Man's identity after seeing internet pictures .
The lead singer of Prazsky Vyber said yesterday he had seen Mr Strnad last month in a "disoriented" state and talking of going abroad. Michael Kocab said: "His state seemed to be the way it has been described by the [British] hospital. He was not himself. He walked beside me for a few metres and mumbled something about wanting to go abroad in order to build a career."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments