Cuban leader Fidel Castro says he is fine after falling off of the stage in Santa Clara, Cuba. Castro broke his knee and arm in the fall, sources say. The fall is bringing back memories of when he collapsed two years ago.
Note: If you're viewing this story on the MSNBC web site and can't open the link to this slideshow, visit http://www.nbc6.net.
E-Mail This Story: To A Friend
By all accounts, sources say, it appears it was a slip and fall. However, anything having to do with Fidel Castro always garners a lot of attention in Cuba and among South Florida's large Cuban-American population.
Castro’s fall on Wednesday happened during a speech televised coast to coast in Cuba. Cuba's leader had been speaking to 30,000 people during a graduation ceremony 170 miles east of Havana. After Castro left the stage, he stumbled and fell. It appears as if he lost his footing while going down a flight of marble stairs.
It was an eerie moment. The crowd of 30,000 people fell absolutely silent.
After the fall, Castro took the microphone and spoke to the crowd. He joked that while he may have hurt his knee, he was still in one piece.
In June 2001, while speaking at an outdoor event, Castro grew faint and was led offstage. That incident sparked speculation about his health and what might happen if he were no longer in power.
Castro's health is a closely-guarded secret. According to an NBC reporter in Havana, people in the media and in Cuba were definitely talking about the incident, but it appeared they were less concerned about Tuesday’s fall than they were when he fainted in 2001.
Meanwhile, Castro is expected to give another speech on Cuban television today.
More News From nbc6.net:
Trial Under Way In 19-Year-Old's Murder
Police Confiscate Over 200 Pot Plants In Drug Bust
14-Year-Old Driver, Others In Stable Condition After Fatal Crash