Swimming Accident Leaves a Star University of Illinois Football Player with Severe Spinal Injury

SAFETY HARBOR, FL – According to an online news report at foxnews.com, a University of Illinois football player sustained a serious spinal injury as a result of a swimming accident in Florida.*

The player has already undergone surgery and is in recovery at a Safety Harbor hospital, per the University of Illinois.  There are no further details available on the accident at this time.  

 “[The player] is exactly what you want in a student-athlete," the young man’s coach noted. “He is a hard worker, dependable, a dedicated student and a leader. This is devastating to his teammates, the entire Fighting Illini family and his family and friends. We will give Bobby all the support possible as he battles through his recovery. Please keep Bobby and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

In Florida, swimming pools are commonplace however, they can be dangerous and lead to serious if not fatal injuries. Sadly, young children are most vulnerable to swimming pool accidents.  There are several common causes of swimming pool accidents, which include:

• Not following pool safety rules.  Accidents can happen when people ignore pool safety rules, such as not running around the pool and diving into shallow water despite a no diving sign.
• Electrical issues.  The use of electrical products such as stereos can create significant dangers for those who are a pool’s vicinity.  When electricity and water come together, there is a significant risk of electrocution.  
• Property that is damaged.  When there is damage to an area around a pool, such as loose tiles, it can pose a hazard of tripping and falling.  This can lead to a person accidentally falling into a pool, some of whom may not know how to swim.
• Defective pool equipment.  Pool equipment should always be properly maintained.  This includes ladders, which allow swimmers to enter and exit the pool in a safe manner.

.Accident News is a driver safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://www.foxnews.com/sports/illinois-bobby-roundtree-severe-spinal-injury