Global Courant 2023-05-23 21:18:20
The photo is under a tent and on a table with a white tablecloth and flowers on the sides. The urn with the ashes of Benjamín Gamond (23), the young man killed in an inexplicable machete attack in Mexico, receives the tribute of his family, friends, colleagues and references from the Tala Rugby Club, his second home in the south of the city of Cordoba.
His little niece arrived with a smile on her face to leave her offering: the little drawings that he painted for her with vivid and happy colors.
“Benja’s” mother and seven siblings received the affection of a crowd that came to the club to be part of a moving moment this Monday afternoon.
Córdoba: emotional tribute to Benjamín Gamond at the Tala Rugby Club. Photo: The Voice
His ashes will be scattered in the next few days somewhere in the Cordoba mountains that the young man loved to travel.
“We didn’t want a wake,” said his brother Marcos (41), who assured that the young man would have liked a farewell like the one that was, meters from the field where he was happy, along with his teammates, his girlfriend and your friends and family.
On Friday, May 12, after having lunch at a restaurant in the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park (Oaxaca), Gamond was unexpectedly attacked by Irving Cruz Martínez Flores (21), when he was with his friend Santiago Lastra (22) and his girlfriend. Lastly, Macarena Elía González (29), from Necochán.
Córdoba: emotional tribute to Benjamín Gamond at the Tala Rugby Club. Photo: The Voice
The assailant, who had grabbed the machete from a place where they stored coconuts, caused “Benja” serious injuries, especially to the head. His two companions also suffered injuries, although less seriously.
Gamond was transferred on Sunday to a hospital in Mexico City, where he died on Monday, May 15. His relatives decided to donate his organs. They never thought that they would run into the wall of the Mexican bureaucracy for this type of health and humanitarian operation.
“We talked about it as a family and we all agreed. We thought it was an important gesture from him to have significance. We proposed it with total naturalness and we ran into some obstacles from a country that is not used to this,” said Marcos, who is a doctor , adding: “Later we understood why: they did not want the organs to be donated.”
Macarena Elía González, a friend of Benjamín Gamond, attacked with machetes in Mexico. Photo: Instagram
Finally, and after overcoming these obstacles, the family’s wish could be fulfilled and, except for the heart, which did not have a compatible receptor, the other organs of “Benja” served other boys and girls.
“I cannot say that all Mexicans are bad, because there were people who helped us a lot. And then you have the institutions of Mexico, which have empathy from scratch for all the possible mistreatment that a person in this situation that we had to go through can have. “, Mark assured.
“I am certain that his organs managed to save lives,” he agreed.
Benjamin Gamond, with his friend Santiago Lastra.
A pretrial detainee
The Oaxaca Prosecutor’s Office charged Martínez Flores with the “homicide qualified by treachery” of Gamond and ordered his preventive detention.
In addition, he ordered a series of toxicological and psychological tests.
This is how they transferred Irving Cruz Martínez Flores (21), accused of attacking three Argentine tourists in Mexico with machetes.
“He was in a place where he should not be at a time when he did not have to be. There is no other explanation and there is not much left to turn around the situation,” Marcos said.
“Benjamín was looking for his place in the world, like any 23-year-old boy. Looking for experiences, being with other people. I did the same when I was younger and I totally agreed with what he was doing,” said his brother.
Leonardo Graci, president of the Tala Rugby Club, was the victim’s coach for three years. “Benjamín was from a very young age passing through our courts and growing with us. He will be missed, but he will be present with us with every boy who comes out to play on this court,” he said.
Your mom’s letter
A sister of the young man, María, read aloud a letter written by his mother, Gabriela Cajal (64).
“You gave me a lot of happiness, I am very proud of you. So much courage to go out into the world, to succeed, leaving friends wherever you went. Nobody could not love you. You were lent to me for a while and you shone. You were the last gift that ‘Piquito’ gave me He said. I’m not going to be sad, I know you don’t want that. I’m going to celebrate your life every day that I stay in this place, a little surly, harsh for me.
“I would like to have some of that charisma and that pure and no-nonsense mind that you had and that made you loved wherever you went. I promise you that all those caresses that I am no longer going to give you I am going to give to your brothers. I will try to be less closed, to comfort them to mitigate the terrible pain of your physical absence. You were the “little one” of all, we were proud, no matter how many tricks you did, no one could get angry because you disarmed us with your smile “.
“We all showed your photos of your adventures on paradisiacal beaches. You fulfilled all the fantasies that people have of a free, happy life. That life that we all want to have. I would like to know, tell me if you can, if you were happy with me. I think I gave you the most I could within my limitations…
“Visit me, guide me, because I have a selfish sadness. I know you are fine. You will never be old. The world will never let you down. You left being loved, giving love without turning around, transparent. I love you, dear son, and always I’m going to love you”.
The ashes of “Benja” will be scattered in the next few days by his family “somewhere in the mountains of Córdoba,” according to what they said.
Meanwhile, Santiago and Macarena are already in Córdoba, recovering from their injuries, especially internal ones, from the pain in their souls that they will always carry with them.
EMJ
