Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel peace prize laureate María Corina Machado suffered a vertebra fracture during her secret journey from Venezuela to Norway last week, her spokesperson has confirmed. The injury was sustained during a high-risk sea crossing in a small fishing boat battered by high waves, according to Norwegian daily Aftenposten.
Machado previously said she feared for her life during the perilous voyage to receive her award in Oslo. Her spokeswoman Claudia Macera confirmed the fracture but declined to provide further details beyond what was reported by Aftenposten. The newspaper said Machado had been examined by doctors at Oslo University Hospital in Ulleval.
After arriving in Oslo in the early hours of Thursday morning, the 58-year-old had on several occasions said she wanted to see a doctor, without providing any medical details. She had been due to attend the Nobel peace prize ceremony in the Norwegian capital on Wednesday, but was delayed and did not make it in time.
Despite her injury, Machado climbed over a barrier to greet supporters outside her hotel shortly after her arrival.
