Outrage in Havana: Elderly man run over by a bus died waiting for the ambulance

An elderly man died on Thursday night after being hit by a bus from the company Transgaviota in the Havana municipality of Playa, without receiving timely medical attention.

The tragic incident, which occurred in the rain on a poorly lit street, has sparked a strong wave of public outrage in response to the collapse of emergency services in Cuba.

The lawyer and activist Manuel Viera was a direct witness to the event and shared details of what happened at the intersection of 42nd and 37th Streets on .

The elderly man, after being struck by the vehicle, lay on the pavement while several passersby tried to help him.

"Someone in that darkness managed to reach out their arm and shouted... 'He has a pulse, call an ambulance!'" wrote Viera. However, according to his testimony, more than 45 minutes passed before an ambulance arrived on the scene, during which time the man, who apparently showed vital signs at the beginning, lost his life.

During that time, neither the police, nor the firefighters, nor the emergency medical system responded promptly.

The only movement recorded was the arrival of two traffic motorcycles and, later, a fire truck that, according to the witness, merely checked superficially to see if the body showed any signs of life.

"The fire station is less than a kilometer away. Even so, it took them 40 minutes. The young firefighter arrived making noise and kicked the body with his foot. Then, he covered the elderly man with a kind of cape," Viera reported with sorrow.

The ambulance, which should have been the first to arrive, appeared only after it was clear that it was already too late. "If the gentleman had any chance of survival, it is gone 45 minutes after he was struck," he lamented.

A scene of despondency and popular fury

According to the account, neighbors and witnesses gathered at the site and confronted the authorities over the delay.

"People on the scene are very angry and have confronted the officials. They are outraged. Then, societies are criticized where ambulances arrive in 5 minutes, but here an elderly person dies without assistance in the rain," Viera wrote, notably affected.

"Her little red hat under the bus..." he recalled in his message, referring to the image that left a strong emotional mark on him and led him to share his experience, as he said, without the intention of sensationalizing or politicizing the event.

No official response

As of the time of writing this note, the Cuban authorities have not provided an official version of the incident nor have they issued any statement regarding the delays in emergency services.

The identity of the victim has not been disclosed, nor are there details available about the driver of the vehicle involved.

The incident adds to a growing list of citizen complaints about the deterioration of public infrastructure and the emergency healthcare system in the Cuban capital, where ambulances, medical staff, and basic resources are in short supply.

"A strange feeling of helplessness."

Manuel Viera's final words encapsulate the sentiment shared by many on social media following the publication of his testimony:

"I live in a place where life seems to hold no value whatsoever, and today I feel a strange sense of helplessness."

The story of this elderly man, who passed away in the rain and neglect, has struck a deep chord in a city that, amid hardship and resignation, still finds voices rising up to demand humanity.

Frequently Asked Questions about Accidents and Emergencies in Cuba