Danilo Bartulin, a Chilean politician and a medical doctor was well-known due to his close ties to Salvador Allende. Salvador Allende, the former president of Chile tragically suffered his death during the coup that was led by Augusto Pinochet in 1973. Danilo Bartulin was a witness to the events taking place at the Presidential residence in La Moneda as it was attacked by the army and air force. Surprisingly, Bartulin survived both the explosion and the subsequent shooting.
How Old Is Salvador Allende Doctor?
In those tense moments, Danilo Bartulin was by Salvador Allende’s side. He listened to Allende’s final national address, and his uncompromising decision to stay in the palace until closing. Tragically, he witnessed the death of Allende, that was reported as suicide. Danilo Bartulin’s story begins in Chile the country which is where he was raised. He completed his medical training in the University of Chile and specialized in psychiatry and neurology. It was at this point that he began to be closely associated to Salvador Allende, a prominent person who led his Popular Unity coalition to victory in the presidential election of 1970.
Bartulin’s commitment to Allende’s ideals was apparent when he was named Director of the National Health Service, working hard to carry out Allende’s health and social policies. Bartulin also traveled with Allende on diplomatic trips which included a trip in Cuba at the end of 1972. On the day of September 11 on the 11th of September 1973 Danilo Bartulin was in La Moneda, standing shoulder to together with Salvador Allende, as the military and air force under the direction by General Augusto Pinochet began a brutal attack. In the midst chaos, Bartulin listened to Allende’s moving final national address and witnessed his firm choice to remain inside La Moneda until end. Tragically, Bartulin also bore witness to the death of Allende who was reported to have taken his own life by shooting himself with an AK-47 that was provided to him by Fidel Castro.
Despite his bravery Bartulin’s plight remained unresolved after he was incarcerated and tortured by authorities. The confinement process took him through several detention locations and even one called the National Stadium, where he tried to assist fellow detainees who suffered injuries or were unwell. Then, he was removed and sought refuge in Spain in which he vehemently protested against the human rights violations of the Pinochet regime. In Spain He was able to continue his medical practice, and specialized in the rehabilitation of brain injuries as a psychiatrist and neurologist. He played an integral role in the establishment of the Spanish Society of Neurorehabilitation. In his lifetime, Danilo Bartulin authored numerous writings and articles using his experience in Chile and his expertise in medicine. He also participated in documentary and interviews that illuminate Salvador Allende’s life and work. Victor Jara, an iconic Chilean musician and activist suffered a tragic end in the hands of the dictatorship of the military under Augusto Pinochet in 1973.
Danilo Bartulin, Danilo Victor Jara shared a grim experience when they were both arrested and transported in the Estadio Chile. In their stadiums, both were subjected to brutal torture and were secluded from the rest of the detainees. They spent their last moments in a state of anxiety and solitude. In the darkest hours, Danilo stood alongside Victor Jara. According to reports, their torturers brutally scolded the singer, ridiculing his efforts to sing and perform his music. Amazingly, despite the gruelling suffering, Victor Jara managed to sing a part of the anthem from the Popular Unity party. Unfortunately, his resoluteness was ended with a violent and brutal ending as he was viciously attacked and finally was shot by the machine gun. The dead body of Victor Jara and five other individuals were discovered within the confines of the Metropolitan Cemetery in the early morning hours on September 16.
