tekkmortal
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2003
- Messages
- 1,534
- Reaction score
- 0
HAVANA Oct 20, 2004 — President Fidel Castro fell as he left the stage after a televised speech Wednesday night, but he quickly recovered his composure and assured Cubans he was "all in one piece."
Castro, 78, was shown on live television after his tumble, sitting in a chair at the outdoor event in the central city of Santa Clara. He joked into the microphone that "maybe I broke my knee … but I am all in one piece."
Castro's condition was not immediately known.
People watching television could not see what happened after Castro wrapped up the speech at a graduation ceremony for arts instructors and left the stage. Television viewers only saw several of his security men running, evidently to assist him.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said Castro tripped after he walkied down the wooden stairs from the stage, then fell onto the ground on his right side, first hitting his knee and hip, and then his elbow and arm.
As he has grown older, Castro's knees have seemed to bother him more and his step has seemed less steady.
Dressed in his typical olive green uniform, Castro was sweating profusely when he appeared on camera less than a minute after the fall. He asked Cubans to forgive him for "any suffering this may have caused."
"I will do what is possible to recover as fast as possible, but as you can see I can still talk," he said. "I can continue in my work."
Castro noted the presence of international photographers and television camera crews at the event.
"The international press has captured it and surely tomorrow it will be on the front pages of the newspapers," said Castro. He then encouraged those at the event to continue with their musical program, which they did.
Castro had made it clear he did not want to leave the area in an ambulance and was later seen being driven away in his black Mercedes Benz.
The incident did not appear nearly as serious as one in June 2001, when Castro apparently fainted before a crowd of thousands during a speech in the scorching sun. Castro joked then that it was only a rehearsal to see what kind of burial he would get.
The earlier incident renewed speculation about Castro's health, and what will happen in Cuba after he dies.
The health of Castro, who has been in power for 45 years, has long been closely watched particularly by his political enemies in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community
Cuba without Castro will be good for Cuba.
Castro, 78, was shown on live television after his tumble, sitting in a chair at the outdoor event in the central city of Santa Clara. He joked into the microphone that "maybe I broke my knee … but I am all in one piece."
Castro's condition was not immediately known.
People watching television could not see what happened after Castro wrapped up the speech at a graduation ceremony for arts instructors and left the stage. Television viewers only saw several of his security men running, evidently to assist him.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said Castro tripped after he walkied down the wooden stairs from the stage, then fell onto the ground on his right side, first hitting his knee and hip, and then his elbow and arm.
As he has grown older, Castro's knees have seemed to bother him more and his step has seemed less steady.
Dressed in his typical olive green uniform, Castro was sweating profusely when he appeared on camera less than a minute after the fall. He asked Cubans to forgive him for "any suffering this may have caused."
"I will do what is possible to recover as fast as possible, but as you can see I can still talk," he said. "I can continue in my work."
Castro noted the presence of international photographers and television camera crews at the event.
"The international press has captured it and surely tomorrow it will be on the front pages of the newspapers," said Castro. He then encouraged those at the event to continue with their musical program, which they did.
Castro had made it clear he did not want to leave the area in an ambulance and was later seen being driven away in his black Mercedes Benz.
The incident did not appear nearly as serious as one in June 2001, when Castro apparently fainted before a crowd of thousands during a speech in the scorching sun. Castro joked then that it was only a rehearsal to see what kind of burial he would get.
The earlier incident renewed speculation about Castro's health, and what will happen in Cuba after he dies.
The health of Castro, who has been in power for 45 years, has long been closely watched particularly by his political enemies in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community
Cuba without Castro will be good for Cuba.
