Medics Applaud Machete Attack Victim After Organ Donation

This touching video shows how a young tourist murdered in an unprovoked attack was posthumously applauded by medics as his body was removed from the operating theatre after his organs were donated.

The footage was posted to social media by proud relative Facu Gamond, who wrote on 17th May: “Thank you, Benja, for being who you were. We will all learn from you.”

The procedure on deceased machete attack victim Benjamin Gamond, 23, from Cordoba, Argentina, was carried out at a hospital in Mexico City on 16th May.

Jesuhandy Conde Gomez, the mayor of Villa de Tultepec, Mexico, where Benjamin was killed on 12th May, told local media: “We have been in close contact with his brother, providing support for his repatriation to his home country, and they also decided to donate his organs.

“His brother even told me something that has saddened us deeply, which is that his heart will stay in Mexico and remain on the Oaxaca coast.”

The crime took place on Chacahua Island in Villa de Tututepec when Cruz Irvin Martinez Flores, 21, from Ometepec, randomly attacked Benjamin and his pals.

Conde confirmed on 16th May that the suspect suffers from delusions of persecution and attacked the tourists after “ingesting toxic substances”.

He “had arrived (on Chacahua Island) one day earlier in search of work”, he told local media.

Medical staff applaud Benjamin Gamond, as he goes to donate his organs, in Mexico City, Mexico. He died after being hit with a machete on vacation in Lagunas de Chacahua, on the Pacific coast of Mexico on Friday, May 12, 2023. (@facugamond/CEN)

After the unprovoked attack, couple Santiago Lastra, 22, and Macarena Gonzalez, 29, were tended to by paramedics and were taken to hospital in Puerto Escondido.

They are now out of danger.

Benjamin was airlifted to a hospital in Mexico City but died from his injuries on 15th May.

According to Macarena’s mother, the suspect had met the Argentine tourists on the boat on the way to Chacahua Island on 11th May.

Fernanda Carina Gonzalez told local media: “He was talking to them and said he was a surf instructor.

“When they arrived on the island, he told them he was from there and that whatever they needed, he would be around the coast.”

The next day, after noticing Martinez, Benjamin approached him to ask if he knew where they could buy surfboards.

Medical staff applaud Benjamin Gamond, as he goes to donate his organs, in Mexico City, Mexico. He died after being hit with a machete on vacation in Lagunas de Chacahua, on the Pacific coast of Mexico on Friday, May 12, 2023. (@facugamond/CEN)

Fernanda explained: “The guy looked at him angrily, as if he didn’t know him.”

Minutes later, the trio left the restaurant.

Then, according to Fernanda: “The assailant came running out of nowhere, like a madman, and attacked Benjamin Gamond with the machete, hitting him in the face and head.

“The only thing he said to him was, ‘They sent you, they sent you.’

“Then Maca threw herself at him to prevent further attacks, and that’s when he also attacked her.

“My daughter managed to get up and run for help. He also attacked her boyfriend, causing cuts to his arms and a wrist fracture.”

Fernanda added: “In that place, people sleep with their doors open; it’s incredibly idyllic and peaceful.”

Benjamin was a keen rugby player and leaves behind seven older siblings. His family described him as “a beautiful, kind, humble, and friendly guy”.

The hospital where Benjamin’s organs were extracted now has enough body parts to help 67 patients, according to reports.