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Víctor Tornés, a recognized sports figure in baseball from the province of Granma, is living in extreme precarious conditions in Bayamo after suffering a stroke about a month ago, which has left him unable to care for himself, according to a plea for help published by the project "Desde las Gradas con Andino".
The independent Cuban sports journalism project received reports from neighbors and people close to the former athlete, who described a situation they deemed critical and urgent.
Tornés resides at 13 #169 Street, between 10 and 12, Reparto Siboney, Bayamo, where he faces a decline in his health without visible institutional support despite being a provincial sports legend.
His wife is also bedridden: she suffered a cerebral ischemia that left her "speechless, unable to move, and confined to bed," according to the project's statement.
The only person trying to assist them is the wife’s daughter, who has visual impairments and can only be there temporarily, as she lives in Ciego de Ávila.
Before the heart attack, Tornés's livelihood consisted of collecting trash on a rustic bicycle, which illustrates the level of neglect he lived in despite his athletic background.
After the cerebrovascular episode, the doctor prohibited him from working. Tornés cannot bathe alone or take care of his wife, and both require daily assistance from trained personnel.
The case adds to a documented pattern of institutional neglect towards retired Cuban athletes. The Pan American wrestling champion Lisset Hechavarría fell into poverty after her retirement, in one of the most notable cases in recent years.
Cuba has had the National Commission for Athlete Support of INDER since 2000, and in 2025 the Cuban Parliament approved a new Sports System Law that legally recognizes sports legends and establishes special protection for retired athletes.
However, the gap between the regulatory framework and reality is well documented. The official newspaper Trabajadores pointed out that the program for the attention of sports glories has a "good script, poor staging," acknowledging the limitations in practical execution.
The Project From the Stands with Andino demands the urgent intervention of the authorities in Granma, INDER, the Commission for Athlete and Sports Heroes Care, and social assistance services.
"Víctor Tornés dedicated years of his life to sports and brought joy to the fans of Granma. Today, he and his wife need the community and institutions to repay some of that support," the statement notes.
"No one, whether in sports glory or not, should live in neglect. Today, this case is before us. Let us not turn a blind eye," Andino concludes.
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