Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado suffered a fractured vertebra while fleeing Venezuela by boat last week to attend events linked to the award in Norway, her spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
The injury occurred during a perilous sea journey taken in defiance of a long standing travel ban imposed by Venezuelan authorities. Machado ultimately reached Oslo but arrived too late for the official Nobel Peace Prize ceremony held on Wednesday.
According to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, doctors in Oslo diagnosed a fracture in her back after examining her upon arrival. The paper cited sources familiar with the matter and reported that the injury was caused by rough conditions during the boat crossing.
A spokesperson for Machado confirmed the report to Reuters, saying the account was accurate while declining to share further medical details.
Machado left Venezuela by boat early last week after spending more than a year in hiding, according to a person familiar with the trip who previously spoke to Reuters. She first reached the Caribbean island of Curacao and then flew on a private plane through the United States before continuing on to Norway.
The opposition leader had been barred from leaving Venezuela for more than a decade as part of a series of restrictions imposed on prominent critics of President Nicolas Maduro. Her decision to travel underscored the risks she was willing to take to accept international recognition for her political activism.
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Despite the injury, Machado has said she intends to return to Venezuela. She has repeatedly stated that her political goal remains a peaceful transition of power and a negotiated end to Maduro’s rule.
Her Nobel Peace Prize has drawn renewed global attention to Venezuela’s political crisis and the personal costs faced by opposition figures challenging the government. Machado’s condition and next steps are expected to be closely watched in the days ahead.
