Mexico’ actor Manuel Masalva in coma after bacterial infection

Manuel Masalva, the Mexican actor who stars as Ramón Arellano Félix in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, is “fighting for his life” after suffering a health emergency.

Masalva is currently in a medically induced coma at a hospital in Dubai after contracting an aggressive bacterial infection, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. He arrived in the Middle Eastern City on March 18 after spending time in the Philippines, and within two days, noticed internal discomfort and pain.

The actor underwent emergency surgery on March 26 after doctors discovered the bacteria, and by the following day, the infection had reached his lungs, prompting the medically induced coma.

“His respirator was lowered to 80 percent, which means that his lungs are reacting,” Masalva’s manager, Jaramillo Espinosa, told the Times. Espinosa added that Masalva is in critical but stable condition.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Masalva for additional information.

Fellow actor and friend of Masalva, Mario Morán, addressed his condition in a Wednesday Instagram video, asking fans for their support.

“My brother is fighting for his life far from home. I want to ask for your help in this very difficult moment,” Morán said in Spanish, per the Times. “Manuel Masalva — who is one of my best friends [and] who is really like a brother to me — fell victim to an aggressive bacteria while he was on vacation. This led to him being in an induced coma, and now his situation continues to be delicate.”

He continued, “The medical costs are huge and in a country where everything is even more difficult. Any help, however small it may seem, can make a difference in this difficult moment. If you are able to help, I would thank you with all of my heart.”

Morán directed fans to a GoFundMe page launched by Masalva’s family to cover his medical costs. The fundraiser has already surpassed its goal of  1 million Mexican pesos ($48,700) and at the time of publishing, has reached 1,049,695 Mexican pesos ($51,363). Morán later shared a Tik Tok update, thanking fans for their support.

Masalva has starred in over a dozen films and TV shows, including Narcos: Mexico, a fictional series about Mexico’s illegal drug trade. The series, which concluded in 2021 after three seasons, also starred Diego Luna, Michael Peña, and Tenoch Huerta Mejía.