The Cuban regime confirmed on Friday the discovery of the lifeless body of Carlos Javier Sánchez, a 16-year-old who was swept away by waves while allegedly swimming near La Punta in Havana's Malecón. The news was shared by the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Centro Habana, which extended its deepest condolences to the young man's family and friends.
"Thanks to the relentless efforts of the Rescue and Salvage forces, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Integrated Medical Emergency System, we report that the lifeless body of the minor, who was carried away by the waves while swimming near La Punta on the previous day, was found in the afternoon," stated the official report.
According to the details, the incident took place the day before when the teenager was in the waters of the Malecón and was pulled into the sea by the forceful waves. Despite immediate rescue efforts, the salvage teams were initially unable to locate him. The search was halted on Thursday night and resumed Friday morning, with the collaboration of the Rescue and Salvage forces, the Ministry of the Interior, Border Guard troops, specialized rescue teams, and the Integrated Medical Emergency System.
The operation, focused on the northern coastline, ultimately concluded with the discovery of the young man's body on Friday afternoon. In response to the official account, a user highlighted that the boy was not swimming but was sitting on the Malecón wall and was swept away by strong waves while trying to retrieve a sandal that fell onto the reef.
The Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Centro Habana reminded the public that the area where the incident occurred is restricted for swimming, especially under adverse weather conditions like those on Thursday, when waves were crashing against the Malecón wall. Authorities emphasized that such activities pose a significant safety risk.
A note from the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Centro Habana on Thursday stated that "upon receiving the alert, rescue and salvage technicians entered the water to conduct an extensive search from the sea's surface inward, but he was not found." The search was expanded to underwater areas with the support of Border Guard troops, but no results were achieved.
"Given the current state of the sea, the operation could not continue today," the official authority specified, adding that the search efforts for the minor would resume on Friday morning.
Common Questions About the Incident in Havana's Malecón
What happened to Carlos Javier Sánchez at the Malecón?
Carlos Javier Sánchez, a 16-year-old, was swept away by waves while near the Malecón in Havana. His body was found after a thorough search by rescue teams.
Were there any warnings about swimming in the area?
Yes, the area has restrictions for swimming, especially during adverse weather conditions, as emphasized by the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Centro Habana.