14°c Light rain showers
17°c Cloudy with showers
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Heart attack killed a suffering Hugo Chavez, head of Venezuela's presidential guard says
Supporters hold a doll depicting of the late President Hugo Chavez as they wait in line to see his body outside the Fort Tiuna military academy in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Chavez's body will lie in sate at the academy until his funeral, scheduled for Friday. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez died of a massive heart attack after great suffering and inaudibly mouthed his desire to live, the head of Venezuela's presidential guard said late Wednesday.
"He couldn't speak but he said it with his lips ... 'I don't want to die. Please don't let me die,' because he loved his country, he sacrificed himself for his country," Gen. Jose Ornella told The Associated Press.
The general said he spent the last two years with Chavez, including his final moments, as Venezuela's president of 14 years battled an unspecified cancer in the pelvic region.
Ornella spoke to the AP outside the military academy where Chavez's body lay in state. He said Chavez's cancer was very advanced when death came but gave no details.
Ornella did not respond when asked if the cancer had spread to Chavez's lungs.
The government announced on the eve of Chavez's death that he had suffered a severe new respiratory infection. It was the second such infection reported by officials after Chavez underwent his fourth cancer surgery in Cuba on Dec. 11.
Venezuelan authorities have not said what kind of cancer Chavez had or specified exactly where tumors were removed.
During the first lung infection, near the end of December, doctors implanted a tracheal tube to ease Chavez's breathing, but breathing insufficiency persisted and worsened, the government said.
Ornella said that Chavez had "the best" doctors from all over the world but that they never discussed the president's condition in front of him.
The general said he didn't know precisely what kind of cancer afflicted Chavez, but added: "He suffered a lot."
He said that Chavez knew when he spoke to Venezuelans on Dec. 8, three days before his final surgery in Cuba, that "there was very little hope he would make it out of that operation."
It was Chavez's fourth cancer surgery and previous interventions had been followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
Ornella echoed the concern of Vice-President Nicolas Maduro that some sort of foul play was involved in Chavez's cancer.
"I think it will be 50 years before they declassify a document (that) I think (will show) the hand of the enemy is involved," he said.
The general didn't identify who he was talking about, but Maduro suggested possible U.S. involvement on Tuesday. The U.S. State Department called the allegation absurd.
Maduro, Chavez's self-anointed successor, said Chavez died Tuesday afternoon in a Caracas military hospital.
The government said Chavez, 58, had been there since returning from Cuba on Feb. 18.
More World
- Back to Top
- Return to World
More World
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Police: 18 injured in crash between shuttle bus, tractor-trailer near Atlanta airport
05/24/2013 7:02 PM 0COLLEGE PARK, Ga. - Eighteen people were taken to the hospital Friday, at least two in serious condition, after they ...
Poll
Most Popular World
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- 2 arrested on suspicion of endangering aircraft after jets intercept UK-bound Pakistan plane
- Gay teen charged for having younger girlfriend
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Distraught mom who carried daughter to safety becomes the face of the storm
- Mistrial in penalty phase of Arias case sets up whole new proceeding to decide punishment
- 5 climbers missing on Mount Kanchenjunga, world's 3rd highest peak
- Muslim hard-liners ID suspect seen in video after British soldier killed in London
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Search for survivors of Oklahoma tornado nearly complete, as homeowners confront devastation
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Muslim hard-liners ID suspect seen in video after British soldier killed in London
- Polish man gets quick face transplant in what doctors say was life-saving decision
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Umbrella-gate stirs outrage
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Missing Pa. woman, last seen dropping off kids for school in 2002, surfaces in Fla.
- Cleveland police: Ohio captive suffered 5 miscarriages after being beaten and starved
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Jodi Arias convicted of first-degree murder, says she prefers death penalty
- Neighbours: Man in custody comforted missing girl's mom, helped search for missing US women
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Chile blocks Pascua-Lama mine, fines Barrick $16M for environmental violations.
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of rock group The Doors, dies at 74 from cancer
- Argentina's 'dirty war' dictator dies
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Shady characters: Cookie Monster, Elmo accused of aggressive behaviour in Times Square
- Up to 60 people injured when car drives into Va. parade; medical emergency possible cause
- Officials announce 1 winning ticket sold in Fla. on record Powerball jackpot topping $590M
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- 'Coronation Street' actor William Roache charged in UK over alleged rapes in 1967
- Coroner: 5-year-old boy shoots 2-year-old sister in US with rifle he got as a gift
- Hitler ate well, his food taster recalls
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Female guards, rapidly growing in numbers, at heart of U.S. prison scandal
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- US tourists swim for nearly 14 hours after boat sinks near St. Lucia
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.