Oslo, Norway – Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado, reportedly sustained a spinal fracture during a daring escape from Venezuela, according to sources close to her team. The incident allegedly occurred as she was attempting to reach Norway to formally accept her Nobel Prize.
Reports indicate that Machado’s injury resulted from a grueling journey aboard a small fishing boat navigating rough seas off the Venezuelan coast. The fracture was diagnosed at Oslo University Hospital, where the 58-year-old underwent medical examinations upon arrival.
Sources familiar with the situation stated that Machado requested a medical evaluation immediately upon reaching the Norwegian capital, causing a delay in her attendance at the Nobel ceremony. Despite the injury, she made a public appearance in Oslo, greeting supporters.
The details of the escape reveal a complex and perilous operation. Machado reportedly left Caracas in disguise, traveling to a northern beach. A boat intended for her extraction malfunctioned, forcing a last-minute change of plans.
Brian Stern, an American former soldier who founded a company specializing in extracting individuals from conflict zones, confirmed the operation, codenamed “Golden Dynamite.” The use of an older fishing boat was intended to avoid suspicion, particularly amid heightened scrutiny of vessels suspected of drug trafficking.
Following an arduous sea voyage without the possibility of geolocation, Machado, reportedly exhausted and drenched, was transferred to another vessel and then to the island of Curaçao. From there, she traveled to the United States before finally arriving in Oslo via private plane.
In a statement, Machado expressed that she felt her life was in danger at times during the journey. She added that the experience was also profoundly spiritual, as she felt she was in God’s hands throughout the ordeal. DZWatch will continue to follow this developing story.
