Carr out of the woods after hospitalisation

Veteran track and field coach Michael Carr says he is grateful to be alive and is now resting at home, after being hospitalised last Friday due to blood pressure complications.

Carr, the long-serving head coach of Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls, was in the process of collecting his school’s passes for the prestigious Gibson McCook Relays when he suddenly fell ill and had to be rushed to hospital.

He told The Gleaner that doctors told him that he had experienced a dangerous surge in blood pressure, which led to heart-related complications.

“I am happy to say that I am recovering from the incident the other day. My pressure is down now, thank God, and I am resting because I have been advised by the doctors to really take some rest, and I just realised that I needed the rest,” Carr said.

The respected coach, who is in his late 60s, has dedicated decades of his life to the development of track and field. He began coaching in 1979 and has been at Wolmer’s since 1987, building a reputation as one of the sport’s most committed and experienced mentors.

Reflecting on the outpouring of support he has received since the health scare, Carr expressed deep gratitude to everyone who has reached out to him.

“I want to say, though, thanks to all who took time out to call me, message me and wish me all the best. Because this is the time that you really understand how people see you and how people love you and respect you; and I just want to say thanks to them all. I am recovering because I have a few more weeks to just kick back and relax,” he said.

Carr noted that his situation was very serious, but it is now under control.

“It was a heart problem, but thank God it is now under control and things are back to normal. It was a surge of blood pressure that created a problem, so I am giving thanks that I am coming on,” he said.

Despite the scare, Carr remains committed to his athletes and he has confirmed that he intends to be present at this month’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, (Champs), although he may miss this weekend’s Carifta Trials as he continues his recovery.

“I will be at Champs, but I am not sure if I will be at the Carifta Trials this weekend because by Champs time, I should be up and running because the blood pressure and all those things are coming back down to normal; so all things being equal, I should be up and around,” Carr said.

“But of course, if I am at Champs I will be taking things easy because I can’t go full hundred like one time, and so I will be chilling. But I will be there for the girls and make sure that things are in place and all of that, so that is what I have to do,” he said.

Last season, Carr guided Wolmer’s to a sixth-place finish at the Championships with 90 points.