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AURORA — Christian Bale, star of the last three Batman films, met at the Medical Center of Aurora on Tuesday afternoon with seven patients injured in the mass shooting that occurred during a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."

Hospital interim president Bill Voloch said Bale spent about 2½ hours at the hospital, where he met with five people being treated for their injuries. Two others came from Swedish Medical Center to meet Bale, who stars as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

"The patients were really happy to meet Bale," Voloch said. "They are obviously big fans of his movies. They wanted to see Batman and were really pleased to see Bale."

Bale and his wife, Sibi Blazic, also met with a number of

Actor Christian Bale visits Aurora shooting victim Carey Rottman.(Special to The Denver Post)

doctors, Aurora police officers and emergency medical technicians who were first responders when James Eagan Holmes allegedly killed 12 people and injured 58 others at Century Aurora 16 theater early Friday. Bale spent about 10 minutes with each person.

"It was good for the patients," Voloch said. "We hope it was therapeutic for them, and all the staff really appreciated him coming."

Nurse Crystal Flateland said she definitely did.

Flateland and 18 other staff members from Swedish were taken to Medical Center of Aurora on Tuesday for an appreciation buffet and — to their surprise — a meet and greet with Bale.

"I am probably one of the biggest Batman fans ever," Flateland said. "It was amazing, actually, to get to meet him. I think it's really great he came out here. It was touching."

Flateland was called in to work after the shooting. During that morning, she was part of a medical team transferred to Medical Center of Aurora, where more help was needed. Flateland said she ended up working about 40 hours straight.

"It was kind of exhausting," Flateland said. "But I've now caught up on sleep and recovered."

Bale also spent some time with Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Medical

Christian Bale was in the Denver metro area Tuesday to meet with victims of the Aurora theater shooting. In this photo released by Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, via Twitter, Bale meets with Swedish staff members. (Swedish Medical Center)

Center of Aurora received 18 patients from the movie theater shooting, and seven were admitted. Four patients went to Swedish Medical Center.

Voloch said Bale notified hospital officials that he wanted to visit the injured but asked that media not be notified. "He just wanted to meet with victims and police."

Among the people Bale visited was Carey Rottman of Denver. Friends quickly tweeted out a photo of their visit.

Bale and Bazic also visited a growing memorial to victims near the movie theater.

Officials from Warner Bros. Pictures, maker of "The Dark Knight Rises," said Bale came to Aurora on his own.

"Mr. Bale is there as himself, not representing Warner Brothers," said an assistant for Susan Fleishman, executive vice president for Warner Bros.' corporate communications.