A young man with curly hair and a denim jacket next to a woman with long, curly hair, both outdoors. — Bautista Ortega and Ana Paula Dutil | Redacción

Camara — Bautista Ortega and Ana Paula Dutil | Redacción

He ran 15 blocks to save his mother: the dramatic testimony of Bautista Ortega

Palito Ortega's grandson recounted how he faced a critical situation to avoid a family tragedy

05/05/2025 17:05:00h

Editorial Team

Bautista Ortega, grandson of the renowned singer Palito Ortega and Evangelina Salazar, shared one of the most intense and painful moments of his life: when he had to run 15 blocks to save his mother, Ana Paula Dutil, from a crisis that could have ended in tragedy.

The young man revealed his story in an interview with Gente magazine, where he starkly exposed the ordeal he lived through with his mother during her darkest period. "Her worst moment lasted a year. I didn't leave the house so as not to leave her alone. I was scared," he confessed with anguish.

During that period, Bautista took on a role that went beyond that of a son. He became a support, caregiver, and unconditional companion, making it clear that filial love can be as powerful as it is healing.

A woman with glasses and curly hair hugs a young man with curly hair who is wearing a black jacket with a cross hanging from his neck, both are outdoors with a background of blue sky and vegetation.

Bautista Ortega and his mom, Ana Paula Dutil | Redacción

A desperate race against fate

One of the most moving episodes of his story occurred when Ana Paula, from a photo session, called her children to announce that she wanted to take her own life. Bautista was training in a gym 15 blocks away, and he didn't hesitate.

"I grabbed all my things and started running. I never ran so much in my life," he recounted, describing a desperate race guided by love and fear. That decision was key to avoiding a tragedy and, at the same time, deepened a bond already marked by adversity.

The former model also gave her version in another interview. She revealed that, during that critical stage, her son set an alarm every hour to check that she didn't harm herself. The situation had hit rock bottom.

A group of three people posing outdoors with trees and a sunlit sky in the background.

The model Ana Paula Dutil and the children she has with Emanuel Ortega, India and Bautista | Redacción

A necessary change to heal

The emotional impact of those years left deep marks on Bautista. After going through that painful chapter, he made a decision that transformed his life: he moved to Miami with his father, Emanuel Ortega. He needed to reconnect with himself.

"I asked myself: 'What do I do now?' I felt lost in Buenos Aires. I went to try another life, to live alone, play soccer, do other things," he explained.

Bautista Ortega's story not only highlighted the suffering silently endured by many young people but also the strength of family love in the face of the deepest crises. His heroic act and emotional fortitude stood as a testament to a bond that withstood pain, fear, and despair.

Amid the recent hospitalization of Martín Ortega, Palito's eldest son, Bautista's testimony resurfaced strongly and once again highlighted the urgency of talking about mental health and the essential role that family plays in the most critical moments.

➡️ Argentina