And in an update form the week’s other major road accident....tonight, former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel is in the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami receiving treatment for injuries he suffered in an accident on Monday morning. The 68 year old Senior Financial Advisor to Government, broke bones in his face, his jaw, his shoulder, fractured three ribs and two bones in his foot when the vehicle slid off the highway and flipped several times. He left Belize Medical Associates for the airport at 11:30 last night – and 7News was there. We spoke to his daughter Laura today about what’s happening now and what’s next.
Laura Esquivel, Daughter
“There was a team that actually came down with the medi-vac and they went over to the Medical Associates where they got my father secured into a ambulance and then took him back to the airport, secured into the airplane. They finally did leave again back to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami about midnight last night and so now they are hauling in the team of various specialists to come in and they are working on a game plan to decide what surgeries will take place and when they will take place.”
Keith Swift,
Where you able to talk to your father before he left?
Laura Esquivel,
“Yes actually since I came back in I was at the hospital yesterday
and he was keeping up in good spirits, trying to make light of the situation and trying to crack some jokes here and there and keeping himself alert and he did have some visitors yesterday and he recognized everybody and spoke to everybody.”
Keith Swift,
What is his most pressing medical need right now?
Laura Esquivel,
“He needs facial reconstruction surgery which seems to be the most immediate need. He has quite a bit of swelling around his face and so that is the most immediate need right now because as you know that could hamper his breathing and stuff if not taking care of and so that is what they are looking at right now.”
Keith Swift,
When your father does recover, will he continue working in Belmopan?
Laura Esquivel,
“I’m sure he will. I’m sure he is going to want to get right back into it, get some work done.”
Keith Swift,
How long do you expect him to be in Miami for?
Laura Esquivel,
“Well the doctors in Belize had given a timeline of about three to five weeks but we are still waiting, like I said before, the doctors in Miami to tell us a better timeline as to when the surgeries will take place and then after the surgeries then we will be able to better determine the recovery time that it will take.”
When Esquivel arrived in Miami doctors performed a battery of tests to confirm that there were no other complications. He is accompanied by his wife Kathy.
