Maria Corina Machado. Photo: Collected

OSLO, Dec 15, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace 
Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado suffered a vertebra fracture during her 
secret journey from Venezuela to Norway last week, her spokesperson said 
Monday.

Machado previously said she feared for her life during the perilous voyage to 
receive her award in Oslo.

Norwegian daily Aftenposten said the injury was sustained during a high-risk 
sea crossing in a small fishing boat battered by high waves.

"The vertebra fracture is confirmed," Machado's spokeswoman Claudia Macera 
said.

"For the moment, no additional information will be disclosed other than what 
is in the (Aftenposten) article," she said.

The newspaper said Machado had been examined by doctors at the Oslo 
University Hospital in Ulleval.

After arriving in Oslo in the early hours of Thursday morning, the 58-year-
old had on several occasions said she wanted to see a doctor, without 
providing any medical details.

She had been due to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in the Norwegian 
capital on Wednesday, but was delayed and did not make it in time.

Her fracture did not stop her from climbing over a barrier to greet 
supporters outside her hotel shortly after her arrival.