Politician dies after donating blood to victims of mass tragedy (2025)

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A politician who donated blood to the victims of the tragic Dominican Republic nightclub collapse has died.

Wilmy Nova reportedly suffered a heart attack Monday, according to local reports.

Nova, who was known for spearheading social programs in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of La Caleta, visited a Red Cross center on April 9, a day after the roof collapsed at Jet Set, killing 231 people and injuring more than 200.

However, former Santo Domingo councilwoman Elin Rosario raised doubts over Nova's cause of death and claimed that he was beaten at a local police station.

'Wilmy did not die from anemia, Wilmy did not from a heart attack. Wilmy apparently was allegedly abused, beaten by the National Police,' she said.

Rosario, who hosted a local television program with Nova, called on Attorney General Yeni Reynoso and President Luis Abinader to investigate Nova's case.

'It is not possible for the Red Cross to decide to take blood from a donor, from a person who has anemia,' she said. 'Wilmy's death was not natural, it was provoked.'

A video posted on his Facebook page showed Nova, a father-of-one, lying on a bed as blood was being drawn and supporters of the Social Justice party to do the same.

'We have responded to the call for mass blood donations in response to the tragedy that occurred last night at the Jet Set, a tragedy that has impacted us all,' Nova said.

'We ask all young people in our Party to join us and go to any nearby blood donation center … Come, today for you, tomorrow for me.'

Nova, who had dreams of becoming a member of the Santo Domingo city council, reportedly had been diagnosed with anemia, which had gone untreated prior to donating blood, his family said.

Authorities are waiting for the results of an autopsy to confirm his cause of death.

Nova said he was motivated by Social Justice party leaderJulio César Valentín to donate blood in the hours following the Jet Set accident that killed merengue icon Rubby Pérez, whowas performing during the early hours of April 8.

Video footage showed Pérez singing alongside band vocalists, his daughter Zulinka Pérez and her husband, when the ceiling suddenly crashed over them and the attendees.

A second video showed what appeared to be a tile hanging from the ceiling as several attendees looked up before the roof caved in.

The tragic incident claimed the lives offormer MLB World Series winner Octavio Dotel and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Monte Cristi, who is the sister of former major league superstar Nelson Cruz.

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