Olympic bronze medallist swimmer George Bovell III was briefly unconscious, after he was involved in an early-morning vehicular accident near the Manzanilla Secondary School yesterday. His coach, Sport Minister Anil Roberts said although Bovell was wearing his seat belt, his agility and physical strength saved him when he quickly pulled himself out the driver’s seat and over to the passenger’s side to avert the full impact of the collision. Bovell, 28, was on his way to meet a friend who is a professional diver in Mayaro. A statement from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs issued around 4 pm yesterday said a CAT scan was performed and Bovell’s family was awaiting the results at the St Clair Medical Centre where he was being treated.
It said: “All indications are that the swimmer’s brain function has not been affected by the impact he suffered in the vehicle.” Bovell was driving his father’s blue BMW 5 Series which “is in a terrible state,” Roberts said in an interview yesterday. Manzanilla police said Bovell was heading south along the Eastern Main Road when the vehicle picked up a skid while going around a corner. A cream Nissan dump truck driven by 22-year old Rakesh Moonilal was heading in the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided. Bovell was meeting his friend to free- dive in the south coast around an oil platform, Roberts said. Bovell represented T&T at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
He has captured five medals in the Pan American Games. His Web site says he is the fourth fastest man in history in the 50 metres freestyle. Roberts said Bovell’s head was “heavily bandaged” and that he received several stitches at the Sangre Grande Hospital. He said passers-by stopped to assist at the scene around 7 am and took him to the hospital. Bovell was subsequently taken to the St Clair facility via an EHS ambulance where he was treated by a neurosurgeon. Roberts, who visited the swimmer, said he believed he suffered a “slight concussion.” He said Bovell also had a laceration to the left ankle. Roberts said: “I left him resting comfortably at St Clair and a neurosurgeon is expected to assess him.
“He was unconscious for a while,” he added.
“He lost his memory about the event but after a couple hours, he was lucid and regained full memory about what happened.” Roberts said he saw Bovell on Thursday and he was in great spirits. According to Roberts, the swimmer tried to avoid colliding with the oncoming truck by pulling away, causing the driver’s side to take the impact. Roberts said Bovell acted quickly to save himself. No one else was injured in the accident. “He is OK and already talking about winning in the upcoming Pan American Games,” Roberts said. The minister praised all those who helped Bovell, saying: “I feel great knowing there are citizens who help people in need.” Roberts urged drivers to exercise caution on the roads.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt
By Rhonda Krystal Rambally