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The young Cuban boxer Daikel Gé Arias, from Guantánamo, recently passed away, according to multiple publications shared on Facebook by users connected to the sport on the island.
So far, there are no official reports from the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER) or the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba regarding the causes of death.
The user Irma Lidia Broek posted on her profile that the athlete allegedly died "from cardiac arrest due to the virus that is affecting several provinces." She stated that "Guantánamo is in mourning" and that Cuban boxing has lost "a promising talent who climbed the ranks of high performance in the 57 kg division."
However, in a later post, the same source attributed the death to the health crisis and the lack of medications in Cuba.
“The young boxer did not die from the virus: he was killed by communism. He was killed by the lack of supplies and medications in Cuban hospitals. (…) The virus does not kill if detected in time, but in Cuba, there are not even reagents to diagnose the disease,” wrote Broek, further denouncing the collapse of the healthcare system and the lack of response from health authorities.
For his part, the user Leandro Peña Gutiérrez expressed on his profile: “Daikel Gé Arias suffered an unexpected respiratory arrest that took away this young man full of dreams and potential. He leaves an enormous void in his family, an adorable child, and an indelible memory in the lives of countless friends who recognized his kindness, good behavior, and values.”
The page Boxeo Knockout, dedicated to tracking Cuban athletes, also mourned the passing and described him as “a talent from Guantánamo” who “leaves us at just 24 years old.”
"Today, the sky of Cuban boxing is overshadowed by immense sadness," the profile administrators wrote. "Our commitment is and will be to honor his memory, always upholding his spirit. Rest in peace and eternal glory!"
Although the publications agree in expressing condolences for the young athlete's death, the exact causes have not been officially confirmed. Some sources mention a "respiratory arrest" or "cardiac arrest," while others link the death to a virus that is reportedly affecting several provinces in eastern Cuba.
As of the moment this note was written, the Cuban authorities have not issued a public statement regarding the case, nor has it been announced whether the death will be investigated or acknowledged by the country's sports institutions.
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