Hector "Macho" Camacho, who has been declared brain dead after being shot in the face, will be taken off life support, his mother announced Friday night. Camacho's son is against it and wants to see his father alive as long as there is hope of a miracle.
The boxing champ's mother, Maria Matias, informed the press outside the hospital that she had asked the doctors to remove life support. So, Camacho might be taken off life support on Saturday after his three sons arrive in Puerto Rico to see him for the last time.
"I lost my son three days ago. He's alive only because of a machine," Matias said. "My son is not alive. My son is only alive for the people who love him. "Until they (Camacho's sons) arrive, we will not disconnect the machine."
A news conference will be held on Saturday morning at Centro Medico, the main trauma center for San Juan, to update Camacho's fans.
Although, the three-time world champion's mother has to take the final decision, his eldest son, Hector Jr. is in favor of continuing Camacho's life support.
"He's going to fight until the end. My father is a boxer," Hector Jr. said.
As per doctors, the famed boxer is clinically brain dead.
But Camacho's relatives and friends are in favor of continuing life support for some more time in hope of a miracle.
"It is a very difficult decision, a very delicate decision," The Associated Press quoted Victor "Luvi" Callejas , a longtime friend, as saying in a phone interview. "The last thing we lose is hope and faith. If there is still hope and faith, why not wait a little more?"
After the news of Camacho being brain dead spread, condolences started coming in.
Gov. Luis Fortuno called his death a sudden loss. "Macho will always be remembered for his spontaneity and charisma in and out of the ring," he said.
The governor-elect Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who defeated Fortuno in November, said: "The life of Macho Camacho, like other great athletes of ours, united the country.
"We celebrated his triumphs in the streets and we applauded him with noble sportsmanship when he didn't prevail."
Camacho and his friend were shot when they were sitting in a car outside a bar. Nobody has been arrested so far in the case. Police even declined to say whether they have identified any suspects.
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