The former owner of Kings Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, Leon Tsoukernik, was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition on Tuesday after medical responders found him unconscious and "fighting for his life" following what a police spokesperson described as a "possible unlawful act" involving the intravenous administration of a powerful sedative, believed to be propofol.
Tsoukernik, 51, was airlifted to a medical facility after receiving initial treatment and assessment at his estate in Chodová Planá, which is only a few minutes' helicopter ride away from Kings Resort, near the Czech-German border. Tsoukernik sold his interest in Kings Resort in 2024.
"I can confirm that we had two crews with a doctor on site. We handed the patient over to the air ambulance service in serious condition," said Andrea Divišová, a spokeswoman for the regional ambulance service, quoted by Czech news outlet Novinsky.cz.
Police investigation into possible unauthorized use of sedative
Separately, a police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation has already begun into the incident. Propofol is a powerful and normally reliable sedative used in numerous medical procedures, and also, under certain circumstances, as a treatment for insomnia. Also known under the brand name Diprivan, the drug is fast-acting and coma-inducing and generally has fewer side effects than other powerful sedatives, but its misuse can lead to death, and the drug is normally administered in medical supervision under close monitoring,
However, it has also been used illicitly. Known unofficially as the 'milk of oblivion', propofol was the illegally administered sedative that killed singer Michael Jackson in 2009 after being misused by Jackson's private doctor.
To what extent a similar illicit-private-use situation involving Tsoukernik may have occurred is unclear, though an initial police statement leans in that direction. "We are investigating a possible illegal act that may have occurred at an unspecified time in Chodová Planá. A 51-year-old man was found unconscious there and was airlifted for medical treatment," said police spokeswoman Iva Vršecká, in a statement published by multiple Czech outlets.
Vršecká added, "The police commissioner has initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of committing a particularly serious crime of grievous bodily harm. All circumstances of the case are subject to further investigation,"
PokerOrg will update this report as additional information becomes available.
