An Argentine tourist died while visiting Ollantaytambo, a popular tourist attraction in Peru located 32 kilometers from Machu Picchu. According to local sources, the man was identified as Carlos Jorge Rubinstein, a 59-year-old Argentine national. He passed away on Tuesday, July 16, but the news has only recently been reported.
The tragic incident occurred as Rubinstein was exploring the archaeological site, situated at an altitude of 2,792 meters above sea level. After collapsing, staff and guides at the site attempted to assist him, with initial aid provided by other tourists and his companions.
A dramatic video that went viral shows people performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Rubinstein while a bewildered bystander exclaimed, “I need oxygen!”
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People present at the scene reported that it took around 20 minutes for medical personnel to arrive. It has yet to be confirmed if Rubinstein had any preexisting health conditions.
In the video, another person can be heard saying, “Aren’t the medics coming or what?” remarking on the medical facilities available at the site.
Hanner Horna, head of the Cusco Tourism Police, acknowledged that there is a shortage of medical services and noted that only Machu Picchu has adequate medical facilities. “It’s sad to receive this kind of news. These are situations that happen. We wouldn’t want them to, but it occurred at the train station. Initial assistance was provided by staff nearby. We need to continue promoting coordinated efforts to ensure immediate response in such situations,” he told RPP.
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In September 2023, Neuquén resident Walter Matías Rosales (35) was stabbed in Oruro, Bolivia, during a confusing incident with a Colombian man shortly after arriving with his partner.
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Rosales’ mother, Karina, explained that her son returned with a chest wound, saying he had been attacked before collapsing. He was taken to a health center, where he arrived alive but was denied entry.
“My son arrived with vital signs and was left on the hospital sidewalk, where he died,” she told LM Neuquén, accusing hospital staff of neglect.
Rosales’ partner, who witnessed the incident, said that they were denied a phone to call an ambulance because they were foreigners. “It took over 40 minutes for help to arrive; they refused us a phone, accused us of being drug addicts even though we hadn’t taken anything. People refused to help because we were foreigners. They denied us care, saying there were no ambulances, but when we arrived, more than three were parked there,” she recounted.