Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

A 54-year-old indigenous man has reportedly killed himself out of “guilt and desperation” after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

The local authorities said the victim, named Samuel, was found hanging from a tree outside his home in the community of Francisco Leon in the municipality of Ocosingo located in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

According to state health official Jose Manuel Cruz Castellanos, Samuel was the 41st case of COVID-19 in Chiapas.

He added that the patient had received his COVID-19 test results and state prosecutors are investigating the case as a possible suicide.

According to Cruz Castellanos, the deceased’s three children, who had arrived from another city, were the first to show symptoms of the virus.

Samuel began to display symptoms on the 4th April and a test on the 9th reportedly came back positive.

He had been in contact with 14 other people in that time, mostly relatives, according to reports.

Joel Morales Garcia of the Francisco Leon Defence Council said the deceased killed himself out of “guilt, desperation and not having the support he needed”.

Local media said that his family members are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.

The Francisco Leon Defence Council has reportedly advised residents not to visit the village out of precaution.

Meanwhile, the indigenous community has asked the local authorities to treat villagers displaying virus symptoms.

The investigation into Samuel’s death is ongoing.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Mexico has registered 5,014 cases of COVID-19 and 332 related deaths.

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