Mr EC arrived on site to begin work for the company, with a younger assistant accompanying him. He stated that the installation project would take about a week. The property’s tenant, Diego Méndez, a 22-year-old man, had sustained a work-related injury that left him wheelchair-bound since last May. He reported the incident to the local police and received formal acknowledgment from a judge this week, who is overseeing the case.
A formal process has begun, leading to arrests and an ongoing investigation into a businessman and his wife, who are accused of offenses against worker safety and causing serious injuries. Authorities concluded that the woman played a role, alleging the exploitation of vulnerable groups, including undocumented immigrants. It is claimed that her husband engaged workers for days without formal contracts or proper training on occupational hazards.
That account follows the experiences of a young Venezuelan who described the events before the same judge. The narrative details the pattern of actions, from the initial setup to the moment practices on the ground commenced, including a dangerous incident where the worker fell from a top of a ladder without feeling the legs. A substance with a menthol scent was involved, and instead of calling for medical help after the fall, the injured worker was carried to a van and left at the hospital door. The plan also involved visiting the apartment where the child resided to obtain the passport.
During the journey to the health center, the employer claimed that the injury happened during a home accident while installing a television, saying the work was not part of a formal job. He warned that trouble would follow if there were any problems stemming from the disorderly circumstances. He assured that everything would be taken care of. As investigators continued, the young man was handed over to a guard at Doctor Balmis Hospital in Alicante, and, tragically, he did not regain contact afterward.
In court, the man gave his first testimony, having declined to speak at the police station. He indicated that Diego was found near his van that day and suggested the injury resulted from a street fall. Regarding their relationship, he denied being the employer and claimed to have helped connect Diego with clients and suppliers to enable his work. The 22-year-old, who had recently arrived in Spain without documentation, stated that he had no prior experience in installing cooling devices, as he testified before the judge.
Under questioning from the lead attorney, Jose Bonet, it was noted that the person overseeing the facility had contacted an installer from the supplier network, yet Diego was not the suggested candidate. The implication was that the EC had opened a market for workers without proper qualifications.
Following these clarifications, the instruction proceeded without further testimony or forensic reports detailing the full extent of Diego’s injuries. If the court agrees with the assessment, the case will be forwarded to the appropriate venue for a decision.
Efforts by the investigated party to distance themselves from the young man were evident, with messages on WhatsApp confirming a working relationship between the two.
From hospital care to an apartment with limited rehabilitation options
Inside a charity flat shared with four other refugee youths, Diego Méndez has been in residence since December 14, after his discharge from the Toledo Paraplegic Hospital, where he spent six months at the maximum allowable stay.
Now living in the Santa Bárbara district of Toledo, his circle includes friends from diverse backgrounds—a Ukrainian, a Colombian, a Peruvian, and an African national whose exact origin is not known—who help him cope with the daily challenges. He receives 170 euros monthly for food and 50 euros for other basic expenses, provided by the organization that manages the residence.
Despite the support, Diego faces financial constraints that make it difficult to cover multiple rehabilitation sessions. The ongoing need for therapy and consistent care remains essential to his recovery, especially after the hospital stay.
His injury is a vertebral fracture with spinal involvement that left him unable to move from the waist down after a fall from a three-meter ladder. This condition has brought severe neuropathic pain and requires almost constant analgesic treatment, along with urinary and fecal incontinence, greatly increasing his dependency.
Even though age twenty-two, he continues to face daily battles. The emotional toll and periods of discouragement are as real as the physical pain. He is separated from his family across thousands of miles since December 2021, with his mother and brother not having had the chance to visit since then. He arrived in Spain with limited means, and those who can travel occasionally have managed only sporadic contact.
The only nearby support comes from his friend Felipe, who traveled from Venezuela to Madrid’s metropolitan area to live nearby and to visit him once a week, offering comfort and companionship during a difficult chapter in his life.