MIAMI, United States. — The Cuban Yudeimi Rodríguez, who recently arrived in the United States on a sea voyage, offered the network America Teavee a heartbreaking testimony about how she lost her 10-month-old baby at sea.
The woman, her husband (Yoandri Espada) and their two children left Cuba on October 30 through the town of Mariel aboard an artisanal boat that ended up collapsing. This caused them to lose the provisions and, therefore, the little one ended up dehydrating.
“The boat broke, it burst. After that we were four days adrift. That was when I lost my child,” said Rodríguez, visibly affected by the event.
“When the raft burst, my boy dehydrated, also my girl, also me, but the one who could least hold out was him and in my arms he died,” added the woman.
The boat in which they left Cuba ended up collapsing due to bad weather.
“We were caught by a (cold) front that was entering. The waves were huge, the sea turned black, there was a lot of current,” Yudeimi explained.
The woman showed América Tevé the severe burns she suffered as a result of sun exposure and dehydration. She also admits that if she were given the choice again, she would have stayed on the Island with her baby.
“I would like to return, but it is no longer there. We have to move on,” said the Cuban through tears.
Both she and her husband and daughter (Claire) were rescued by a fisherman just as she lay dying and with the boat surrounded by sharks.
Despite not having family in the United States, Yudeimi assures that they have not felt alone. The family receives help from the religious organization Hermanos de la Calle and Cuban businessman Manuel Milanés. Likewise, the offices of the Republican congressmen María Elvira Salazar and Mario Díaz-Balart are making arrangements for the release of her husband, Yoandri, who remains detained in an Immigration center.
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