Fears of Franklin Brito's supporters came true. Since 2009, the grower went on a number of hunger strikes to defend what he deemed his right to ownership. He died last Monday, approximately at 9:00 p.m., at the Intensive Care Unit of the Caracas Military Hospital.

The information was confirmed by his wife Elena Rodríguez de Brito. During a telephone conversation, she told El Universal that doctors advised her about her partner's death, but gave no further details about the cause.

Apparently, a myocardial infarction ended with Brito, 49. Since Friday, August 20, he remained unconscious as a result of induced coma.

"It seems he had a heart attack. Doctors tried to resuscitate him, but they could not make it," Franklin Jr. told El Universal.

His wife mentioned that one hour before dying, she had seen her husband. According to her, he was "tough, very cold."

Brito's health had lately deteriorated. "My father collapsed and was inserted a tube due to respiratory failure, widespread infection, pneumonia and deterioration of vital organs such as liver and kidneys," his daughter Ángela said in a press release posted on the website on Sunday, August 22.

His height was 1.90 meters, but ended up weighting 35 kilograms only. His BMI was under 10 percent and he had critical hypothermia.

Brito's brother Héctor told reporters on Monday night that they should wait until Tuesday morning to receive the body of his brother.

Brito left a wife and four children. He died waiting for President Hugo Chávez to take a stance about his case. In 2003, he resolved to stage a protest because of squatting and seizure of his lands located in the peasant settlement of La Tigrera in southern Bolívar state.
ahernandez@eluniversal.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado