John Merino was an Ecuadorian colonel

Colonel

Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...

 and the head of security for President

President

A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...

 Rafael Correa

Rafael Correa

Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado born is the President of the Republic of Ecuador and was the president pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations. An economist educated in Ecuador, Belgium and the United States, he was elected President in late 2006 and took office in January 2007...

.

After co-ordinating security for such events as the Union of South American Nations and the independent bicentennial celebrations, Merino was promoted to security chief of Presidential security a few days before the inauguration

Inauguration

An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....

 for Rafael Correa’s second term.

On August 10, 2009 Merino was admitted to Quito’s military hospital with flu conditions. Merino was admitted to the ICU ward when it was discovered he was suffering from the H1N1 virus. Merino died at the age of 42 on September 6 after spending 27 days in hospital.