25-year old Carlos Antonio Hernández died when caught inside the blaze that destroyed the Los Hidalgos Pharmacy on Abraham Lincoln Avenue on Saturday, 6 March 2021.
Hernández was pronounced dead when transported in a 911 ambulance to the Ney Arias Lora Hospital burn unit. Dr. Eddy Bruno, director of the Burn Unit, said that the victim had some burns, but smoke inhalation was the cause of his death.
Hernandez was found unconscious in the pharmacy’s bathroom by members of the National District Fire Department who responded to the emergency.
The fire in the pharmacy started around 5:53pm, destroying practically the store. Except for Hernández, all employees and customers were able to abandon the pharmacy in time. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
The pharmacy chain closed all stores on Sunday to mourn the deceased employee.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
El Caribe
8 March 2021