U.S. relative of Cuban boy collapses after visit

February 21, 2000
Web posted at: 7:19 PM EST (0019 GMT)

MIAMI (CNN) -- A great uncle of Elian Gonzalez collapsed Monday after returning home from a visit with the 6-year-old at the home of the man's brother, where Elian has been living.

Manuel Gonzalez has been estranged from his brother Lazaro, with whom the boy has been staying.

Soon after the boy was rescued at sea, Manuel favored returning the boy to his father in Cuba. That position alienated him from the other Florida relatives who want the boy to remain in the United States.

Armando Gutierrez, spokesman for Elian's Florida relatives, declined to say who or what prompted Monday's meeting.

"It's a family secret," he said. "The meeting was amicable," he added.

After the meeting, Manuel Gonzalez returned home and collapsed. A friend said Manuel Gonzalez was suffering from heart palpitations. He was taken to a hospital for observation.

Last week, Manuel Gonzalez filed a federal court petition seeking temporary custody of Elian and asking that the boy be moved to his home in accordance with the wishes of Elian's father.

The filing was part of a court case in which Lazaro Gonzalez is challenging a decision by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service that ruled that Elian should be returned to his father.

Last week, the Justice Department and INS turned down the father's written request to move the boy to Manuel Gonzalez' home.

Chicago attorney Jeffrey Leving, who now represents Manuel Gonzalez, tells CNN he plans to ask a federal judge in Miami on Tuesday for a hearing on Manuel's petition.

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