Last night we told you about the tragedy that befell cyclist Marlon Castillo, one of Belize's premiere riders who is also a butcher. He suffered an unimaginable tragedy when his right hand got caught in a meat grinder.
Tonight we can confirm that 35-year-old Castillo has lost part of that hand. It means that the young man will be unable to work for quite a while and that his cycling career could be at an end.
But there are those who say that Marlon, a fighter won't be so easily defeated, one of them is his friend and brother in cycling Andrew Ordonez, who today praised Marlon as a cyclist while wishing him a speedy recovery.
Andrew Ordonez, Owner, Ordonez Bike Shop
"When you hear the name Marlon Castillo, he is a giant in cycling, because he still is. Marlon came 4th in the cross-country last year and he won almost every race in cycling. So Marlon is a cycling icon. Shortly after the incident occurred, a friend came frantic and told us if we heard what happened to Marlon and we said we have no idea and when he gave us the story, it really shocked us, because we know that Marlon was looking forward to the 2023 cycling season. He was about to get serious in training for upcoming races and upcoming cross country. So, of course its definitely devastating to him."
Reporter
"In your experience, how much is... and we know Marlon is left-handed, how much is your non-dominant use in the cycling sports?"
Andrew Ordonez, Owner, Ordonez Bike Shop
"Once it comes to racing you definitely need both of your hands, because if you climb, sprint - he will be able to time trial okay, but when it comes to really racing to top level it will definitely be difficult. So, he definitely will be able to ride again, but say preparing for a major race, it will be tough. But today with technology you never know. The technology has gone so far that you get a prosthesis and who knows. We will wait and see. He is a fighter, so definitely we will see him back on the bike."
"We want to wish Marlon a speedy recovery and we want him to know that we all love him - all the fans, the cyclist they do share their heart sadness of what happened, but they are also know that Marlon is a fighter and he will be back."
