Anita Alvarez loses consciousness in pool at world championships in Budapest | Swimming News

American artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez was saved from drowning by her coach Andrea Fuentes at the world championships in Budapest; “I jumped into the water again because I saw that no one, no lifeguard, was jumping in”

American artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez was rescued by her coach Andrea Fuentes after losing consciousness in the pool at the World Aquatics Championships

American artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez was in danger of drowning after losing consciousness in the pool at the world championships in Budapest before being rescued by her coach Andrea Fuentes.

Spaniard Fuentes, a four-time Olympic medallist in synchronised swimming, jumped into the pool after she saw Alvarez sink to the bottom at the end of her solo free final routine.

She was given medical attention beside the pool before being taken away on a stretcher.

Alvarez fainted in the water

It was the second time Fuentes has had to rescue Alvarez after she leapt into the pool during an Olympic qualification event last year and pulled her to safety along with the American’s swim partner Lindi Schroeder.

“Anita is much better, she is already at her best. It was a good scare, to be honest,” Fuentes told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“I jumped into the water again because I saw that no one, no lifeguard, was jumping in. I got a little scared because she wasn’t breathing, but now she’s fine. She has to rest.”

In a statement on the US Artistic Swimming Instagram page, Fuentes said 25-year-old Alvarez would be assessed by doctors on Thursday before a decision was made on her participation in Friday’s team event.