AN 18-year-old male is currently in a comma after he figured in an accident with a triathlete during the cycling course in Panabo City.
In the report provided by the Police Regional Office Davao Region (PRO-Davao), spokesperson PMaj. Eudisan Gultiano said it was around 9:15 a.m. a triathlete, whose name has yet to be released, crashed into the 18-year-old, a resident of Panabo City, Davao del Norte. The city is part of Alveo Ironman 70.3’s cycling course.
Based on the initial investigation, some witnesses claimed that the victim attempted to pic-up a tumbler that was thrown by one of the triathletes. In a Facebook post by someone who identified themself as the victim's cousin, the netizen said the victim was picking it up to prevent an accident.
However, when he picked up the tumbler, the speeding triathlete crashed into him. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Panabo City (BFP-Panabo), who were nearest to the triathlete and victim, attended to both of them immediately following the accident.
The triathlete was able to get up and finish the race. However, in an interview with SunStar Davao, the mother of the victim said that her son is currently in a coma after his operation.
“Pag-CT scan daghan gyud kaayo nakita nga dugo sa iyang ulo, kay murag naay damage iyang skull, kay pagkabundak niya mao to niadto sa laing part sa ulo ang dugo (After the CT scan, they saw that he had an internal bleeding in his head. They said that the force of the crash may have damaged his skull),” the mother, whose name has been withheld, said.
She said that her son is still under observation.
Meanwhile, BFP-Panabo said a 55-year-old triathlete David Smith also had to stop in Panabo City due to back pains.
“He [sought] medical attention due to back pain and was brought to the standby medical team and afterward picked by the Alveo Medical Team,” BFP-Panabo said on their Facebook page. KSD