American university student impaled by javelin in freak accident

An emerging track star was recovering in hospital after requiring surgery when he was impaled by a javelin in a freak accident.

An American sprinter on the University of Georgia track team was hospitalised after the first-year student was accidentally impaled by a javelin, the school said on Thursday (AEST).

Elija Godwin suffered a punctured and collapsed left lung when he backed into a javelin implanted in the ground while running backward sprints, according to a police report obtained by WXIA.

Teammates reportedly rushed to Godwin’s aid before medical workers arrived and sawed off a piece of the javelin that was sticking out of Godwin’s back, the station reported.

He was transported to a nearby hospital where the rest of the javelin was surgically removed by doctors.

Godwin is in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery, the university’s athletic department said in a statement.

“We would like to express appreciation for all those who acted so quickly and efficiently in coming to the aid of Elija,” Georgia director of sports medicine Ron Coulson said in the statement

“Special thanks to our sports medicine staff, UGA Police Department, Athens-Clarke County Fire-Rescue, National EMS, and Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.”

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity added: “It was truly an accident. Nobody threw anything or anything like that.”

Reporter for American TV news station WSB-TV, Sophia Choy, spoke to Godwin’s mum, who said doctors needed to remove the javelin from his lung.

“The javelin pierced his lung, and so they had to remove the javelin carefully,” she said. “The only organ that was really damaged was his lung so they’re expecting a full recovery.”

Elija Godwin is expected to make a full recovery.

With the New York Post