Bajan athlete leaves Jamaica after alleged attack

A Barbados athlete who has dreams of representing his country at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, has left Jamaica in a huff, claiming that he was beaten up by a group of fellow athletes at his club's housing facility.

The athlete, Joshua Walcott, said the incident took place on Monday, shortly after he finished training and was heading back to the house.

"I was heading back home to the camp and was on my phone when five guys came up beside me. I ignored them and continued on my phone and that was when they decided to attack me. I got kicked in my back and stuff," Walcott, a quarter-miler told THE WEEKEND STAR, hours before leaving the island.

"I am shocked that this happened to me because I am a very humble person. I was a part of the Barbados army and a national athlete, so I am very disciplined. It really hurts me to see that I make a lot of sacrifice and leave my two children to come here and have this type of experience. It is traumatising, and that is why I am speaking out, because if no one speaks out, someone else may fall into this pattern," he added.

The athlete said that he reported the matter to a police dispatcher with whom he spoke via the force's emergency number, 119. He said that a police unit was dispatched to the Kingston 19 house where he stayed with the athletes. He, however, said that no statement was taken from him by the cop, who arrived in a police service vehicle that evening.

Contacted by this newspaper, the police's Corporate Communications Unit said it was unable to share information on whether Walcott reached out to its emergency number to report the attack.

Meanwhile, Walcott said that in addition to calling the police, he sought care at a private medical facility. He also decided that he would no longer stay at the athletics club house.

"My life was placed at risk so I had to go to a safe place at my friend's house until I booked an emergency flight to leave the island today," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Walcott, who arrived in Jamaica on April 25, said some members of the club sought to make his stay at the house uncomfortable, as he was told that certain facilities were out of bounds for him.

"I was told I couldn't use the bathroom because it was theirs, and the stove and so on. It was very uncomfortable living there. There were like so many rules and I felt like I was in a toxic cage," Walcott said.

The athlete was forced to spend Thursday night at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston due to flights in the eastern Caribbean being grounded as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Bret. He said that his focus on this point is to resume his training so that he can make Barbados' team to Budapest.

"I am very concerned about the injury that I got to my back because I have Trials coming up. I took a few days off because I was feeling pain and got some bruises and swelling," Walcott said.

The disappointed athlete said that he has reported the matter to the head coach of the training outfit. The coach confirmed that he is in receipt of the report. He said he is currently overseas but has instructed that an investigation be undertaken.

"He told me about it but it is a bit sketchy as to what he said took place. I want to get some more clarity on what took place. The persons at the house with him said nothing of the sort so I sent another coach, who knew Walcott, to get a feedback on exactly what happened, so I can do the necessary," the coach said.