A 28-year-old Cuban man tragically lost his life on Tuesday morning in the town of Olleta, located in Navarra, Spain, following a devastating workplace accident while working on a telephone pole. The victim, identified as Yoandry Alonso Peña, fell from a height of approximately eight meters, resulting in his death at the scene despite the efforts of emergency responders, as reported by local media.
The incident occurred at 11:31 a.m., prompting the SOS Navarra 112 emergency management center to dispatch firefighters from the Tafalla station, a medicalized ambulance, a helicopter, and units from the Policía Foral. Unfortunately, medical personnel were unable to save the young man's life. The Judicial Brigade of the Policía Foral de Navarra is currently investigating the exact causes of the accident.
A Beloved Colleague
Yoandry had been living in Pamplona for about two years with his wife, residing in the Buztintxuri neighborhood. He moved to Spain seeking a better life, leaving his closest family members back on the island. With previous experience in the construction industry in Havana, Yoandry was employed as a maintenance technician for Netzero, a company specializing in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
His coworkers remember him as a "hardworking and cheerful" individual, always attentive to his colleagues. In addition to his commitment at work, he was a passionate soccer fan and a devoted supporter of Real Madrid, according to those who worked alongside him. One of his biggest dreams was for his family to join him in Spain.
Investigation Underway
At the time of the accident, Yoandry was dismantling copper telephone lines, having previously worked on fiber optic and cable installations in rural areas. His untimely death has deeply saddened his coworkers and neighbors, who have expressed their grief over the loss of someone they describe as dedicated to his job and consistently positive in his demeanor.
Between January and June 2024, there was a 7.9% increase in fatal workplace accidents in Spain compared to the same period in 2023, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy. The 299 work-related fatalities recorded in the first half of the year marked the second-highest figure since 2020 in the nation, only surpassed by the 320 fatal workplace accidents in 2022.