The first born son of former Cuban president Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Jr. or Fidel “Fidelito” Castro Díaz-Balart, committed suicide on Thursday morning, Cuban government sources confirmed according to reports.
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JUST IN: Cuban government sources confirm Fidel Castro Jr., son of Fidel Castro, committed suicide Thursday morning.
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 2, 2018
JUST IN: Cuban government sources confirm Fidel Castro Jr., son of Fidel Castro, committed suicide Thursday morning.
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 2, 2018
He had reportedly been seeking medical attention for the past several months and had slipped into a “deep depression.” No other details surrounding Castro Jr.’s death have been formally released at this time, and it’s currently unclear how he took his life.
“His delicate health situation required hospitalization and then ultimately continued with outpatient follow-ups as he reincorporated himself back into society,” a reporter said on Cuban television.
Se suicidó el hijo mayor de Fidel Castro, según la prensa oficial de Cuba
Castro Díaz-Balart, el único hijo nacido del matrimonio del dictador cubano con Mirtha Díaz-Balart se encontraba bajo un "estado depresivo profundo" desde hace varios meses, pic.twitter.com/JxDLi7YglT— Roberto (@rermultimedia) February 2, 2018
The father and son shared a special bond, but apparently things between the two got a bit shaky before their deaths, according to CNN’s Cuba correspondent Patrick Oppmann.
“Fidel ‘Fidelito’ Castro Díaz-Balart was both his father’s namesake and cousin to the Miami exile politicians who bitterly opposed Castro,” he explained in Twitter. “He had run Cuba’s nuclear power program until a dispute with his father. Castro Díaz-Balart committed suicide today, per Cuban state media.”
Fidel "Fidelito" Castro Díaz-Balart was both his father's namesake and cousin to the Miami exile politicians who bitterly opposed Castro. He had run Cuba's nuclear power program until a dispute with his father. Castro Díaz-Balart committed suicide today, per Cuban state media.
— Patrick Oppmann CNN (@CNN_Oppmann) February 2, 2018
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.