17-year-old Dies after a Duel of “Pechito”: Game Turns into Tragedy

Chiriquí DOLEGA:  A game between teenagers in the Rincón Largo sector in the district of Dolega ended in tragedy after one of these young people received a blow to the chest that caused a heart condition which caused his death before arriving at the Rafael Hernández Regional Hospital in the district of David, in the province of Chiriquí.  “What started as a celebration with friends turned into a tragedy,” said one resident.  The incident occurred during a party when a group of young people decided to play a game called “pechito,” which involves beating each other’s chests to see who can resist the longest. Sadly, one teenager was hit so hard that he suffered serious injuries and died before reaching the hospital. 

The teenager’s neighbors and family members said they were dismayed and distressed by this situation and called for people to avoid this type of gambling among peers, which puts their health at risk.  “He grew up with us here in the neighborhood; he was a very decent and loving young man. This serves as an example for us parents to encourage our children to reflect and use different games to have fun in a healthy way,” lamented Mr. Edelmiro Gutiérrez, a community resident.  The Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into this incident and is in the process of legally establishing the cause of death, following an autopsy that should be performed in the coming hours.  This has not been the only incident in which a young person puts his health at risk due to this game.  In September 2024, a 15-year-old boy was diagnosed with hypoxic encephalopathy after receiving a blow to the chest that stopped his heart at school.