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The Municipal Group for Operations and Relief of the Cuban Red Cross rescued an elderly person with a hip fracture in the community of Palenque Arriba, one of the most difficult access areas in the municipality of Yateras, in the province of Guantánamo.
According to a post on Facebook by Aris Arias Batalla, in order to reach the patient, the rescuers had to walk kilometers on foot under the heat and intense sun, cross river passages, navigate trails and rocky roads, and make their way through the dense tropical vegetation of the mountainous area where Palenque Arriba is located.
"Typical summer heat and sunshine, riverbanks, trails, rocky paths, enormous bushes witnessing typical vegetation, and kilometers of walking did not deter the Municipal Group of Operations and Relief of the Cuban Red Cross in Yateras," Arias described in his post.
In addition, he shared several images that provide a fairly close idea of the difficulties faced by the rescuers during the operation.
However, despite the obstacles, the rescuers managed to stabilize the patient at the scene of the incident and secure them on a metal stretcher before beginning the evacuation.
"The Red Cross rescuers managed to stabilize the patient and evacuate him safely, ensuring his physical integrity throughout the entire journey," the publication stated.
Once the evacuation was completed, the elderly person was transferred to the Policlínico Fausto Favier Favier, the main healthcare center in the Palenque de Yateras area, where he received specialized medical care for his recovery.
The recognition for the operation was specifically directed to Wilfredo Piñeiro and his team, who led the operation.
Yateras is one of the most mountainous and isolated municipalities in Cuba, featuring a nearly 100% mountainous topography and communities that are part of the Turquino Plan, a program for mountain areas.
The community of Palenque Arriba is only accessible by crossing the Palenque River up to seven times, and heavy rains can leave it cut off for more than 15 days, which highlights the magnitude of the rescue.
This extreme geographical context makes operations like the one described an exceptionally challenging task for any emergency team.
It's not the first time this group has performed under similar conditions: in October 2025, after Hurricane Melissa passed through, the Red Cross in Yateras rescued two isolated patients in the mountains, one with appendicitis and the other with multiple traumas.
The rescue images show between four and six rescuers wearing white shirts from the Cuban Red Cross, red protective helmets, and rubber boots, carrying the elderly man on a stretcher covered with a green blanket across the mountainous terrain.
"This action reaffirms the Red Cross's commitment to protecting lives and assisting the most vulnerable individuals, even in the most adverse conditions," concluded Arias Batalla, adding that "the swift coordination and professionalism of the team were crucial for the success of the rescue."
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