Cuba Archive - Case 11880

Case ID: 11880

Title: N/A

First name: Eldis

Last name: Leyva Nieves

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: Endis Leyva NIeves

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:21 / Month:1 / Year:2005

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:18 / Month:12 / Year:2025

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: Ocujal del Turquino, municipio Guamá

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: Santiago de Cuba

Last known province current: Santiago de Cuba

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Hospital General Docente "Agostino Neto",

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: Santiago de Cuba

Location of death province - current: Santiago de Cuba

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: No

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Cuba's Armed Forces

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Young nursing graduate fulfilling his mandatory military service who suffered catastrophic injuries after a rocket exploded in mid-air during exercises at the Maqueisito firing range, District 10, Paraguay Municipality, in Guantánamo province. It was reported that the firing range did not meet the required technical and safety conditions for conducting explosive maneuvers. Eldis was rushed to the Agostino Neto General Teaching Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, where he died four hours later. The impact of the device had caused a ruptured spine, severe damage to his aorta, and three heart attacks during surgery. A military tribute with honors was held at his burial in the Ocujal de Turquino Cemetery. His surviving twin brother was discharged from military service. It was reported that compensation would be offered to the mother instead of a public, transparent, and accountable investigation. Another soldier, Captain Eduardo Maturel García, from the Artillery Regiment, was also injured in the same incident, sustaining less serious injuries.

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Joven graduado en Enfermería que cumplía el Servicio Militar Obligatorio y sufrió lesiones catastróficas tras la detonación de un cohete en el aire  durante ejercicios en el campo de tiro de Maqueisito, Circunscripción 10, Consejo Paraguay, en la provincia de Guantánamo. Se informó que el campo de tiro no cumplía con las condiciones técnicas ni de seguridad necesarias para realizar maniobras con explosivos. Eldis fue trasladado de urgencia al Hospital General Docente Agostino Neto, de Santiago de Cuba, donde falleció cuatro horas más tarde. El impacto del artefacto le había provocado la ruptura de la columna vertebral, daño severo en la arteria aorta y tres infartos dentro del salón de operaciones. En su entierro en el Cementerio de Ocujal de Turquino se realizó un homenaje militar con honores. Su hermano gemelo sobreviviente fue dado de baja del Servicio Militar con baja militar. Se informó que se otorgará una indemnización a la madre en  lugar de una investigación pública, clara y responsable. En el mismo incidente resultó lesionado otro militar, el capitán Eduardo Maturel García, perteneciente al Regimiento de Artillería, que sufrió heridas de menor gravedad.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Gross or criminal negligence

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: mandatory military service

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Eldis Leyva Nieves