Jonathan Frómeta Navarro has emerged as a local hero deserving special recognition following the devastating floods in San Antonio del Sur, triggered by the powerful Hurricane Oscar in the Guantanamo province. Despite his preference to shy away from the spotlight, his neighbors insist that "he was the man to thank" for his courageous actions during the crisis.
With a strong physique, Frómeta is involved in physical culture and practices spearfishing, while also working as a barber. His rescue efforts began in the early hours of October 21, when relentless rains caused severe flooding, threatening the lives of hundreds of residents in San Antonio.
The Midnight Rescue Mission
"This hurricane was more destructive here than Flora; the water rose to the height of many houses’ roofs. We didn’t know what was coming. It was terrifying. By two in the morning, the water reached knee level, and we tried to elevate our belongings, but by four, the major flood hit. It was like a river," Frómeta recounted, visibly shaken, to the local paper Venceremos.
Amid the chaos, Frómeta led a group of young men to relocate several neighbors to the second floor of a nearby house owned by his aunt. "With a group of youths, I moved people from the block to my aunt's house, and then I dove back in to rescue the children. It was a tough night," he shared.
A Race Against Time
As daylight broke and rescue teams arrived, Frómeta continued assisting them in evacuating the elderly and other vulnerable individuals. One particularly tense moment was when he swam to retrieve his daughter, who had been stranded on a rooftop with a plastic sheet for protection since the flooding began. He also made his way to a children's school near the beach, navigating through his neighborhood and La Plaza, swimming and walking where the terrain allowed.
"We had to break into homes where people were trapped, nearly drowning, unable to escape. I couldn't reach everyone. It was hard," he admitted.
A Selfless Act of Courage
Frómeta is credited with saving nearly 50 people, single-handedly rescuing around 25 individuals, including nine or ten children and about 15 adults. Despite his valiant efforts, he couldn't reach all those in need.
When asked what motivated him to risk his life for others, he responded, "I was driven by humanity and fatherhood, the urge to help children who couldn't escape because their parents weren’t there, women alone with kids, the elderly, and even those trying to save their animals, though we couldn’t reach everyone."
Jonathan described how the floodwaters receded slowly, leaving behind a grim landscape of mud and debris, with his own home left in ruins. "I thank God for being alive, although it's difficult, and I don't know if it's better to have to live through this," he concluded.