The coach who helped the fainted swimmer intervenes: “She was not breathing and I tried to wake her up by slapping her”

The swimmer of the American synchronized team Anita Alvarez she was saved from the bottom of the pool by her coach, the Spaniard Andrea Fuentesafter passing out during the world held in Budapest.

Four times Olympic medalist in Beijing and London, Fuentes jumped into the pool to the rescue of his disciple, who was sinking to the bottom and not breathing after finishing his routine during the free solo final.

“It was a good substitute. I had to jump because the lifeguards didn’t“, the coach told the Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

Fuentes jumped into the pool in his pants and shirt, dived to the bottom and dragged Alvarez to the surface before getting help to get her out of the water.

“I got scared because I saw that he was not breathing, but he is already very well, in full”, said the Spaniard.

The American swimmer was taken on a stretcher to the licensed medical center in the pool to the shock of his teammates and the public.

The US swim team later reported in a statement that the swimmer was doing well.

Heroine of the day

Fuentes explained to Spanish radio stations that his disciple passed out due to the strain shown during his routine.

“I think she was at least two minutes without breathing because her lungs were full of water, but we were able to get her to a good place, she threw up the water, just coughed,” he told Rac1 radio.

“I tried to wake her up by slapping her and opening her jaw,” he added at Cope station.

The Spanish coach said that Alvarez will rest on Thursday but that he wanted to participate in the team final on Friday if he passes his medical examinations.

This is the third World Cup for the American athlete, who also passed out during a qualification for the Barcelona Olympic Games last year.

Source: AFP