A young Cuban climbed a telecommunications tower of ETECSA in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud this Friday, an incident that has raised concerns and sparked numerous comments on social media.
Although there is still no official confirmation from the authorities, several videos shared in Facebook groups showed the young man perched at a great height on the tower, reportedly located in the Franco and Gerona area, according to some users.
The images released showed the young man at the top of the tower, without any visible protection, which underscores the seriousness of the incident. In one of the shots, the silhouette of the young man can be clearly seen clinging to the metal structures of the antenna system.
Another image seems to show the moment when his body is hanging, which aligns with reports indicating an attempted suicide by hanging. So far, authorities have not provided an official statement on the incident or the current condition of the young man, whose identity has yet to be confirmed.
In the comments on a post in the Facebook group 'Buying and Selling on the Isle of Youth', witnesses stated that the young man attempted to take his own life by putting a rope around his neck. However, several people claimed that he was rescued while still showing vital signs and was taken to the local hospital.
"They already brought him down; he hung himself but still had vital signs, and he was taken to the hospital," wrote a netizen, while others noted that "when they brought him down from the tower, he still had a heartbeat."
The lack of official information gave rise to conflicting reports about the outcome. Some users mourn what happened as a completed tragedy, while others expressed hope that the young man is receiving medical attention.
Amid the exchange of comments, several internet users called for respect and sensitivity regarding the situation. “This is not a game; he has a family,” wrote one user in response to those making jokes or speculating without knowledge of the facts.
So far, the young man has not been publicly identified, nor are the reasons for him climbing the tower known.
Several local users expressed concern about the emotional state of many individuals, especially the youth, amid the difficult living conditions faced by the pine and Cuban population in general, particularly with the worsening energy crisis.
CiberCuba will continue to monitor this case and will update the information when official confirmation regarding the young man's status or the circumstances surrounding the incident is obtained.
Other similar incidents: ETECSA towers as a scene of desperation
Such events, although isolated, are not entirely unprecedented in Cuba. In recent years, several similar incidents have been reported, particularly in Cienfuegos, where ETECSA towers have become the scene of desperate protests or acts of individual despair.
In December 2022, a young man climbed a tower in that province to protest against the blackouts, shouting protests against the government.
In February 2025, another incident shocked the people of Cienfuegos when a Cuban climbed an antenna for over an hour and then descended without apparent injuries.
A week later, it was revealed that he was a young man with psychiatric issues and a complex personal history.
These episodes have been interpreted by many as expressions of the growing social and emotional discomfort experienced by part of the Cuban population, within a context of economic crisis, scarcity, and degradation of mental health, especially among the youth.
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