Young Man Drowns at La Estrella Beach in Santiago de Cuba

A young man tragically lost his life this past weekend in Santiago de Cuba after drowning at La Estrella Beach, a small coastal area near the Morro.

“The young man was found ‘floating face down’ at La Estrella Beach by a small child who started screaming upon seeing him. It is presumed he had been in the water for quite some time,” reported journalist Yosmany Mayeta on social media, citing witness accounts.

The victim, identified as Raúl Consuegra and a resident of the Flores neighborhood, received assistance from a family who rushed him to the hospital.

“Nelson Luis Rojas, who was at the beach with his family, shared with our page that he and his wife administered first aid to the young man and then transported him to Joaquín Castillo Duany Military Hospital," detailed Mayeta. According to the source, the victim still showed signs of life when placed in the front seat of the car.

Upon arrival at the hospital, no stretcher bearer was available, so they had to find a stretcher themselves and, with the help of another young woman, place him on it for medical attention.

“When they took him for observation, he was foaming at the mouth. I asked the on-call doctor if he was alive, but got no response,” Nelson Luis Rojas told the reporter.

In the comments section of the post, hundreds of netizens expressed their sorrow over the death of Raúl Consuegra, describing him as a good person who was very cheerful and jovial. Several commenters suggested that Raúl often traveled on his motorbike and speculated that the story might not be fully accurate, hinting at possible foul play. However, this was refuted by several witnesses who claimed direct knowledge of the incident.

“I was there. He was with his girlfriend, and a friend of theirs kept his scooter and belongings. The girl was in the same place as I was, eating. She went to charge her phone and the scooter,” wrote Amanda Correoso, an eyewitness.

"There's nothing suspicious here, folks. It’s just one of those tragic life events. RIP, may he be in a better place,” concluded Correoso, whose account was corroborated by another individual.

“That’s exactly how it happened. A neighbor who was also at the beach recounted the incident and even brought the scooter to his home,” added a second source.

“He wasn’t alone, and the scooter was taken to his house. His mother was notified. Perhaps they should have acted quicker to get him out of the beach area and to the hospital. Anyway, thanks to those who eventually got him to the hospital,” contributed another person familiar with the case.

“I don’t rule out the possibility that something might have been done to him, but let’s not jump to conclusions. A person can drown in a crowded pool in mere seconds,” warned another commenter.

As of the closure of this article, no official statements have been made regarding the tragic incident. Unfortunately, this is not the first such event reported in Santiago de Cuba in recent days.

Recent Drownings in Santiago de Cuba

In mid-month, two young people drowned at Sardinero Beach, also in Santiago de Cuba, when a group of nine people, including three minors, were swimming in this perilous stretch of coast, where bathing is officially prohibited.

The first victim was identified as Rachel Mora Torres, 20 years old and a resident of Mangos de Baraguá, confirmed on social media by Aris Arias Batalla, the provincial head of Aquatic Safety and Red Cross Operations and Assistance.

The other victim was Yasel Alberto Bicet, also 20 years old and a resident of the Abel Santamaría neighborhood, who was missing for several hours before his body was found.

The three minors involved in this tragic incident, though they survived, were siblings aged between 8 and 17 years. They were identified as Renato Cordero Torres (8 years old), Carlos David González Torres (15), and Carla González Torres (17).