A Cuban worker was critically injured when he fell from a scaffold while working on a bridge construction site in Tapachula, Mexico. The accident occurred on September 11, when Raicer N., 47, fell from a height of approximately 15 meters. He has been hospitalized for two weeks, awaiting surgery for severe injuries.
Raicer, who was working on the elevated bridge on 17 Poniente Street, was not the only one injured in the incident. Another worker, Víctor N., a 38-year-old from El Salvador, also sustained serious injuries. Local media reported that both men are in critical condition.
According to the newspaper El Orbe, paramedics from the SAE group treated Raicer on site. He suffered a parietal skull injury and an open fracture in his tibia and fibula near the ankle. Despite being conscious, he required full immobilization and vital sign monitoring before being transported to the hospital.
Víctor, who hit his head on a vehicle windshield before the scaffold fell on him, was also critically injured. Both men have been reported to have a "guarded prognosis" due to the severity of their injuries.
A report from "Quinto Poder de México" indicated that the two men are likely undocumented migrants, part of the thousands stranded in Tapachula, which has become an "epicenter of the migration crisis" near the Mexico-Guatemala border. Because they lacked health insurance, emergency services had to take them to the regional hospital.
In an update, Raicer has not yet undergone surgery because the regional hospital lacks the necessary materials. In a phone interview with "Quinto Poder," Raicer stated that he is receiving good medical attention and is grateful for the doctors monitoring his condition, although he expressed disappointment that his leg has not been operated on yet.
Raicer also thanked the contractor engineer who visits him almost daily and the construction company that is supplying all the necessary medications. However, he admitted that he has no legal support for his workplace injury case, as he is alone in the border city and unaware of his labor rights.
"I'm in a critical situation, without family or support. They're doing what little they can," Raicer said, acknowledging that while he should be receiving better medical care, he fears it might be withdrawn.
The accident highlights the plight of many migrants in Mexico, where construction companies exploit cheap labor from various nationalities. "Quinto Poder de México" noted that these workers are often subjected to long hours for meager pay and lack any form of social security.
Other Recent Incidents Involving Cuban Workers
In September 2023, Yadier Artiles Ravelo, a recently arrived Cuban in Tapachula, suffered severe spinal injuries after being struck by high-voltage cables. Earlier this year, in February, Gerardo Oscar Fernández Rivery, a 66-year-old Cuban engineer, died after falling from the fourth floor of a construction site in the Dominican Republic. In July, Isnaldo Díaz from Camagüey, who was a father of three, passed away in the United States after being electrocuted on the job.