The Cuban businessman, economist, and influencer Manuel Milanés reappeared through an audio on his social media to thank those who have been concerned about his health in recent days after being shot in an incident near his home last Thursday.
"Who am I to have so many people worried? But well, thank you for being there and for supporting me in a situation like this, not only for me but also for my family," said Milanés, who initially thanked God for allowing him to survive, his family, and the medical team that cared for him.
He also expressed words of gratitude to the sheriff, to the media that have respectfully covered the news, to the office of Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, as well as that of former President Trump. In his extensive list, two artists were mentioned: reggaeton artist El Chacal and comedian Boncó Quiñongo.
In the emotional statement - in which Milanés dedicated almost five minutes to listing his thanks - the well-known Castro opponent said that he is recovering well, but admitted that the process "has been tough."
"In the hospital, I am being very well taken care of, and well, they have maintained privacy, so unfortunately, I can't be seen much... Everything is still under investigation, ruling out anything," he pointed out in reference to the incident.
Milanés said that when entering the operating room, the situation was complicated, 90-10, because he had lost a lot of blood.
"They gave me almost 30 blood transfusions and they had to remove the bullet and put stents in one vein and in two arteries, but I am fine," he explained.
"I remember everything. I know my name, I know what day I was born. Just give me a little while to rest and recover, and soon I will be with all of you thanking you, and I have always given thanks to God," he added.
Regarding the religious faith that he believes has accelerated his recovery process, he mentioned that the doctor who operated on him is named "María" and that the paramedic who kept him alive during the first hour after the attack is named "Lázaro," which has been evidence for him that he was not left alone.
For his followers, he left a recommendation that he cited as a conclusion after the tough experience.
"I came to a conclusion: you have to spend more time with the people who love you. Sometimes we dedicate time in life to other things, and when events like this happen, one thinks 'wow,' I missed doing this, I treated so-and-so poorly, I haven't seen so-and-so in a while. To be better prepared, dedicate time to your family and friends, be together," he said.
Regarding his intervention in the incident that left him injured, he said he would do it again.
"I believe I did what I had to do; it was the decision I made, even though I'm going through this. Without a doubt, I would do it again," he concluded.
Last Friday, the Council for the Anti-Communist War issued an official statement describing the incident that occurred on August 22, in which the leader of that organization, the Cuban Manuel Milanés, was injured, and denied that it was an assassination attempt.
"This morning, in the city of Ave Maria, residence of our director Manuel Milanés, a violent incident occurred in front of his house. In an apparent domestic violence dispute, an individual attacked their partner or ex-partner who was with several children in their car. The individual fired two shots at the car in front of Manuel Milanés's house, who first called the police and then went outside in his pajamas to defend the attacked family," the statement described.
The note added that the subject - who was "unknown to Manuel" - shot at the well-known opponent, businessman, and economist of Cuban origin, and immediately fled the scene.
"After crashing his car during the escape, he continued on foot and was caught by the sheriff's office, which used helicopters and high-tech equipment to locate him hiding in the water of a swamp," the document added, which then lamented initial reports in some media that pointed to an "attack."
The official statement regarding the case confirmed the account reported by local media from the United States.
Local sheriff Kevin Rambosk identified the 26-year-old attacker as Hilberto Callejas. Rambosk indicated that the altercation occurred around 9 a.m. this Thursday in the mentioned locality of Collier County, Florida, and specified that the injured person, namely Milanés, received a gunshot to the shoulder.
The gunman now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated battery, discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle, and child abuse, among others.
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