‘Narcos: Mexico' Star Manuel Masalva in Coma After Contracting Bacterial Infection

Yahoo

05-04-2025

Narcos: Mexico star Manuel Masalva has been placed in a coma after contracting a bacterial infection.
"My brother is fighting for his life far away from home," Masalva's friend Mario Morán said in Spanish in a TikTok video uploaded on Thursday, April 3, adding that the actor, 43, is "one of my best friends."
Morán, 32, explained that Masalva 'fell victim to a very aggressive virus' while on vacation.
'This led him to an induced coma. As of today, his situation remains delicate," he added.
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Morán also shared a GoFundMe link raising money for Masalva's unexpected hospital costs.
"The medical costs are enormous and in a country where everything is more difficult, any help, no matter how small, can make the difference in this very difficult moment," Morán said in the clip. "If you can contribute, we thank you with our entire hearts."
According to the GoFundMe page, which was created on Tuesday, April 1, Masalva contracted an 'unknown bacteria' while abroad and was in 'serious condition.'
An update on Masalva's condition was shared via the page on Thursday.
'Manu remains in critical condition; the bacteria has already been detected,' the post which was written in Spanish read. 'He's on antibiotics, and we're waiting for him to begin to improve.'
The page also shared that Masalva's family was grateful for the donations received so far. At the time of writing, the GoFundMe total has reached more than 1 million Mexican Pesos (which is around $49,000 USD) from more than 800 donations. The page's goal was to achieve $1 million.
'Many thanks to everyone who has donated so far; your generosity and support are crucial during this difficult time for Manuel and his loved ones,' the message read. 'We deeply appreciate the generosity of acquaintances, friends, and family.'
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The post also expressed its gratitude to those who have spread the word about Masalva.
'Thank you for continuing to share this campaign on your social media so we can reach more people who can help,' the post continued. 'Together, we can make a huge difference for Manuel and provide him with the strength and support he needs to recover.'
Masalva is best known for playing Ramón Arellano Félix on Netflix's Narcos: Mexico. The series was a spinoff of the original Narcos and starred Michael Peña, Scoot McNairy, Diego Luna and more. The crime drama ran for three seasons before coming to an end in 2021. Masalva also appeared in several Mexican series, including La Guzmán, Tengo Que Morir Todas Las Noches and more.