Dramatic underwater rescue of unconscious swimmer captured in photographs
The dramatic rescue of Team USA swimmer Anita Alvarez has been captured by underwater photographer Oli Scarff in a series of photos that make for a moment-by-moment replay.
Alvarez was performing in the artistic swimming solo free final at the 2022 World Aquatics Championship in Budapest when, at the end of her swim, she became unconscious and sank to the bottom of the pool.
Head coach Andrea Fuentes quickly sprang into action, diving into the pool fully clothed and swimming down to grab Alvarez.
“It was a good scare,” Fuentes told Spanish sports newspaper Macra.
“I had to dive in because the lifeguards didn’t do it. I was scared because I could see she wasn’t breathing.”
Fuentes then brought Alvarez to the pool’s surface, where another swimmer helped take the unconscious athlete to the edge of the pool.
Alvarez was lifted out of the water and onto a stretcher so she could receive medical attention.
In a statement, Fuentes confirmed that Alvarez had a medical emergency but that “all is okay”.
“The doctors checked all vitals and everything is normal: heart rate, oxygen, sugar levels, blood pressure, etc … all is okay,” she said.
“We sometimes forget that this happens in other high-endurance sports.
“We have seen images where some athletes don’t make it to the finish line and others help them to get there.
“Our sport is no different than others, just in a pool, we push through limits and sometimes we find them.
“Anita feels good now and the doctors also say she is okay. Tomorrow she will rest all day and will decide with the doctor if she can swim free team finals or not. Thank you for all your well wishes for Anita.”
This isn’t the first time Alvarez has experienced a medical emergency in the pool, nor is it the first time Fuentes has saved her.
Alvarez briefly lost consciousness at the end of a routine while at an Olympic qualification event in Barcelona last June, where Fuentes dove in to rescue her.
The 25-year-old came seventh in Wednesday’s competition with a score of 87.6333, with Japan’s Yukiko Inui claiming victory having scored 95.3667.
Images: Oli Scarff (Getty Images)