“The lifeguards weren’t doing it!”: Coach dives into pool to rescue Anita Alvarez at 2022 World Aquatic Championships

“The lifeguards weren’t doing it!”: Coach dives into pool to rescue Anita Alvarez at 2022 World Aquatic Championships

Anita Alvarez being rescued by her coach

The 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Hungary ended in quite the nightmare for Anita Alvarez, who was needed to be rescued by her coach after she almost drowned due to loss of consciousness. Her coach Andrea Fuentes had to take quick action and jump in the water when Alvarez began to go down at the end of her women’s free solo routine instead of coming up on Wednesday.

Fuentes, who is a four time Olympic medallist in synchronised swimming, quickly dove to rescue the 25-year-old. She lifted her from the pool before bringing her to the edge of the pool. Alvarez, a two time Olympian immediately received medical attention and was subsequently carried out on a stretcher. This was reportedly the second time that Alvarez has had to be rescued from the pool, as she also needed help during last year’s Olympic qualification event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGx8n7aGebw

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Anita Alvarez rescued by coach after fainting scare at World Championships

Anita Alvarez being rescued by her coach
Anita Alvarez being rescued by her coach at World Aquatics Championships

According to Fuentes the lifeguards did not react fast enough, which is why she took matters into her own hands. “When a swimmer finishes their routine, the first thing they want to do is breathe and so I saw that instead of going up, she was going down and I told myself, ‘Something is going on,’ and I called for the lifeguards, like, ‘Go into the pool, can’t you see she’s going down in the water?’ And they weren’t reacting, so after a couple of seconds, I went in as fast as I could,” said Fuentes according to CNN.com.

“I don’t think I’ve swum as fast ever before, even when I got Olympic medals and well, in the end, I was able to get her up and she wasn’t breathing … In the end, everything came out OK.” Anita Alvarez was then treated by the medical team, after which she was reported to be in good health. She will take rest for a few days before deciding with the doctors whether she can continue to perform soon after.

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