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NEWS
Castro Falls ...
Literally
Thursday, October 21, 2004
HAVANA — Cuban President Fidel Castro (search) tripped on a step and
tumbled to the ground after leaving the stage at a graduation ceremony,
fracturing a knee and arm but quickly returning to say that he was "all
in one piece."
Castro's fall after a Wednesday night speech in the central city of
Santa Clara was certain to launch a new round of speculation about the
78-year-old communist leader's health and the eventual succession after
his 45 years of rule.
Castro's designated successor has long been his younger brother,
73-year-old Defense Minister Raul Castro (search), who fought with him
in the Cuban revolution that overthrew President Fulgencio Batista
(search) on Jan. 1, 1959.
A medical examination early Thursday confirmed that Castro suffered a
broken left knee and a hairline fracture in his upper right arm, said an
official notice read early Thursday on state television. Castro asked
that the note be made public, the statement said.
Exclusive Associated Press Television News footage of the incident
showed Castro tripping on a concrete step after he finished walking down
the stairs from the stage. He fell onto the ground on his right side
into the first line of chairs, banging his knee, hip, elbow and arm on
the way down, as spectators looked on in surprise.
He was immediately surrounded by scores of security agents and others
who rushed to help him up.
Castro's speech before the graduation ceremony for arts instructors was
broadcast live on state-run television, but viewers could not see his
fall. All that was visible was several of his security men running off
to the side, evidently to assist him.
Less than a minute later, Castro appeared live on state TV, sitting in a
folding chair and sweating profusely in his olive green uniform, and
explained what happened to viewers across the island of 11.2 million
people.
He said he felt like he had broken his knee and perhaps his arm — "but I
am all in one piece."
"I will do what is possible to recover as fast as possible, but as you
can see I can still talk," he said. "Even if they put me in a cast, I
can continue in my work."
The note aired Thursday morning said Castro expressed thanks "for the
innumerable expressions of concern and solidarity from the people."
"His general health is good, and is in excellent spirits," the note
said. "He asked for calm, considering that very soon he will be back in
place."
Castro was earlier seen leaving Santa Clara, about a three-hour drive
east of Havana, in his regular black Mercedes Benz sedan.
As he has grown older, Castro's knees have seemed more wobbly, his step
less steady. Nevertheless, he maintains a busy schedule that frequently
includes all-night meetings with aides and visitors.
Parliament speaker Ricardo Alarcon, who has been by Castro's side more
than four decades, said Thursday he was confident the president would
have a speedy recovery.
"He is a man of much strength," Alarcon told international journalists
in Havana at a Foreign Ministry ceremony commemorating the founding of
the United Nations.
Castro's health has long been closely watched — particularly by his
political enemies in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community.
Such speculation was particularly fierce three years ago when he
apparently fainted during a speech under a scorching Caribbean summer
sun before a crowd of thousands.
Many people burst into tears after watching Cuba's commander in chief
start to collapse behind the podium several hours into that speech on
June 23, 2001.
Castro returned minutes later to assure people in the audience — and
millions more watching it live on television — that he was fine.
But the incident prompted many average Cubans to reflect for the first
time on their leader's mortality and the future of their country after
he dies.
The Wednesday night incident seemed far less serious.
Castro on Wednesday asked Cubans to forgive him for "any suffering this
may have caused."
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 televised
musical program, which they did.
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