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The Cuban economist and opposition figure Manuel Milanés detailed the dramatic moments he experienced after being shot on August 22, 2024 in Ave Maria, Collier County, Florida. In an interview with Tania Costa for CiberCuba, Milanés described the extreme severity of his injuries and how he survived. "I died three times, but here I am."
The incident occurred when Milanés intervened to defend a woman and her children, victims of domestic violence, in front of his own home. The attacker, identified as Hillberto Callejas, 26 years old, had fired shots at the family's vehicle. Milanés first called the Police and then went out to help, at which point he was shot.
The consequences were devastating. "My heart stopped three times, and they had to give me 30 blood transfusions, which is 30 pounds of blood or 30 pints of blood. I don't know the medical term, but it's double the blood I have in my body," Milanés stated.
The wounds were not limited to blood loss. "I lost my collarbone. I still have remnants of lead because the bullet fragmented inside. They removed a bullet fragment just a few centimeters from my heart. It was intense," he explained.
Despite everything, Milanés summarizes his experience with a phrase that leaves no room for doubt: "I died three times. Literally. Here I am alive for the glory of God and to be here with you today," he told Tania Costa.
The activist, a practicing Catholic, attributes his survival to a divine miracle and emphasizes that the incident sparked a wave of solidarity that transcended exile.
"It was a miracle that brought many people together. I have received countless comments and messages, even from within Cuba. People who went to Mass, who had never been to church, because they know I am Catholic," he noted.
Milanés also reflected on the impact that the news had on the Cuban community. The host Tania Costa expressed it this way during the interview: "We are used to receiving bad news from Cuba, but we are not prepared for bad news coming from the United States. And it was a shock."
After his recovery, Milanés was publicly recognized for his bravery. On October 9, 2024, he received the appreciation award from the sheriff of Collier County, presented by Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk. Weeks later, on October 25, 2024, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart honored him in the United States Congressional Record for saving a mother and her four children.
It also includes a personal letter from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump; a recognition from the county sheriff, and he was honored as Town Hero of the city of Ave Maria in January 2026.
Milanés concluded his account with the biblical verse that guides his return to public life: "Romans 12:21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. So, that’s why we are back here, to do good."
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