Man Dies in Pedicab, Body Left on Street for Hours

A pedicab driver in Camagüey tragically passed away on Thursday morning while at work, yet his body remained on the street for hours before being taken to the medical examiner's office. This incident unfolded at the intersection of General Gómez and San Miguel streets, right in the heart of the historic district, under sweltering heat that reached 93°F with a heat index over 102°F.

According to the independent outlet La Hora de Cuba, the man died on top of his pedicab around 11:00 a.m. "A policeman checked his pulse and declared him dead. No first aid was administered. Instead, his body was covered with plastic sheeting and left there for hours, visible to dozens of onlookers and three officers in their patrol car. It wasn't until 1:30 p.m. that authorities finally moved the body," the report stated.

The official cause of death has yet to be revealed, but the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights reported that the man had traveled approximately two kilometers from the provincial hospital before collapsing. The organization shared a pixelated image to protect the deceased's identity, showing the body slumped forward on the pedicab seat, surrounded by a police vehicle and several witnesses.

The Harsh Reality for Pedicab Drivers

Pedicab drivers often endure long hours pedaling under the sun for meager earnings ranging from 30 cents to 10 dollars, depending on the distance and load they carry, as authorities prohibit attaching electric motors to their vehicles. Many drivers resort to this modification to preserve their health, risking fines or confiscation in the process. "The combination of heat, physical exertion, and the dire state of access to food, medicine, and healthcare makes these men easy targets for fatigue and various illnesses," La Hora de Cuba highlighted.

In the online comments, a woman named Tahimi Carballo, residing in the United States, claimed to be the deceased's granddaughter. "Seeing that photo breaks my heart. That's my grandfather, and the saddest part is I couldn't say goodbye," she lamented. Carballo clarified that her grandfather was not elderly; he was only 56 years old and seemingly healthy, with his sudden death shocking the family.

Public Outrage Over Police Inaction

The image of the deceased, shared on social media, sparked widespread indignation. The police's inaction drew heavy criticism. "I learned once that if you encounter a situation like this, even if you believe the person is deceased, you should say there's a pulse to ensure they are rushed to a hospital. It prevents the body from lying exposed for hours, waiting for the medical examiner," one user commented.

Another questioned the judgment of the officers, suggesting, "They should have taken him to the hospital; maybe it was just a fainting spell. If the police are ignorant of these matters, how can they determine a pulse?" A healthcare worker speculated, "Perhaps it was hypoglycemia, a fainting episode, or something reversible if addressed promptly." Another user remarked, "They left him lying there as if he were garbage."

In Cuba, pedicab drivers, often older men, endure grueling workdays under the scorching sun for a pittance. Authorities ban electric motors on these vehicles, forcing drivers to rely solely on their physical strength, even in harsh weather conditions, without basic health or safety assurances.

This tragic incident once again highlights the systemic neglect faced by countless elderly Cubans, compelled to work until exhaustion in a country where the social safety net is increasingly eroding. While the regime continues to advocate resilience, many Cubans are left to battle exhaustion, poverty, and unnoticed death on the streets.