HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Doubt surrounds sprinter Kyle Webb’s involvement in next year’s CARIFTA Games, following a serious road accident that left him hospitalised for a week.
The 17-year-old was riding a motorcycle which collided with a car and a wall, leaving him with injuries to his liver, kidney, ribs and lungs, the Royal Gazette reported.
Though he is already recovering, he remains a serious doubt for the region’s premier youth track and field championships set for the Bahamas.
“I’m hoping he can bounce back … but I’m not going to rush him just because he wants to compete and he wants to compete [badly]. He can’t wait to get back out there but as his coach I have to protect him as well so if I don’t think he’s ready then I’m not going to force him,” said Webb’s coach Devon Bean.
“He’s up and walking now with a cane and his appetite is back so things are looking on the up. But internal injuries are far worst than a broken ankle or pulled hamstring so I’m not going to rush him back.”
He continued: “He’s grateful to still be alive and that his injuries are not career threatening. All he’s worrying about is getting back out there and running, is he going to be ready for CARIFTA and what are schools (international) going to think about him now because they are looking to recruit athletes.”
Ironically this year, sprinter Bruce DeGrilla was also ruled out of the CARIFTA Games here because of injuries sustained in a similar bike crash.
Bermuda National Athletics Association, president Donna Watson lamented both incidents and called on athletes to exercise more caution, in order to preserve their careers.
“Bruce had a bike accident last year that knocked him out of CARIFTA and now we have Kyle in a similar situation. I hope he recovers in time for CARIFTA because I know he was in fantastic shape before the accident,” she said.
