Legendary Los Pumas doctor dies after traffic accident in Punta del Este

The passing of Juan Elmo Moyano, an emblematic figure in Argentine rugby and for decades the team doctor of the national squad, occurred after he was involved in a vehicle collision while taking his morning walk along the coast. The incident took place in the Uruguayan seaside town, leaving a deep void in the sports community that knew him as “Mito.”

The tragic accident on Punta del Este’s promenade

On the afternoon of the incident, just minutes before 11 a.m., a surveillance camera captured the moment a white car was speeding along the coastal area. The vehicle lost control at Playa Mansa, overturned onto the sidewalk, and in a cloud of dust, struck the walking doctor. Although the images do not show the impact directly, the reactions of witnesses to the event reveal the severity of what happened.

Moyano, 78 years old, sustained serious injuries upon being attended to: fractures in the hip and left arm, as well as a traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness. He was immediately transported to a medical center in Maldonado, where professionals worked to stabilize his condition. However, hours after admission, complications from his injuries proved fatal.

Driver under the influence of alcohol: judicial investigation

Reports from the Maldonado Police Department identified the vehicle’s driver as Horacio Guillot Navarro, a 22-year-old citizen with no prior criminal record. Blood alcohol analysis ordered by the judicial authorities showed a positive result, registering 1.20 grams of alcohol per liter of blood.

Based on these findings, the prosecutor’s office classified the incident as involuntary homicide, charging the driver as the presumed responsible party. The circumstances of the accident—excessive speed combined with intoxication—clearly establish the negligence that led to his death.

Juan Elmo Moyano’s legacy in Argentine rugby

His career in the sport was extensive and profound. Moyano served not only as a medical professional but also as a coach, administrator, and at some point, as president of his club. His name was linked to Los Pumas during the 1980s and 1990s, a golden era for Argentine rugby, when he worked as the national team’s doctor.

His involvement went beyond the medical field: he represented his club in various responsibilities within URBA (Union of Buenos Aires Rugby) and was a promoter of sports tours that took Argentine rugby to different parts of the country and the world. In his later years, he remained active on the board of the Asociación Deportiva Francesa, regularly participating in organizing veteran matches.

From the institution where much of his legacy was forged, they expressed their farewell with heartfelt recognition: the club highlighted that Moyano was a true legend of the organization, having come from other clubs such as SITAS and Los Matreros, and remaining connected to the team for decades. His contribution to Argentine rugby, both in sports medicine and in management and player development, positions him as one of the sport’s historic figures, whose influence extended beyond Punta del Este to the entire regional rugby movement.