Jordan Times
Sunday, August 22, 1999
King, Queen visit injured Egyptian athletes in
hospital
Mubarak thanks King; condition of athletes stable
By Aleen Bannayan
AMMAN — Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Saturday, separately visited Egypt's women's squash team being treated for injuries at King Hussein Medical Centre following a road accident on Friday evening.
The athletes were injured when the brakes on the car taking them to Madaba and the Dead Sea on their day off failed, killing the Jordanian driver, whose name was not disclosed.
The most severely injured was Nesreene Nasha't who underwent surgery on Saturday to repair a bone in her left leg and hip.
General Faleh Nasser of the Al Hussein Medical Centre told the Jordan Times that her condition is now stable.
“She will have to undergo reconstructive and plastic surgery on her face in two days time,” he added.
A team of Egyptian doctors was to decide if Nash'at would be transferred to Cairo for the remainder of her medical treatment.
Egypt's Ambassador to Jordan Hani Riyad told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak asked him to convey his thanks and appreciation to King Abdullah for his gesture saying that it meant a great deal not only to the Egyptian delegation but to the Egyptian community in Jordan.
HRH Crown Prince Hamzah accompanied the King on his morning visit to the Medical Centre Queen Rania visited the injured in the afternoon. Their Royal Highnesses Princess Haya and Princes Sumaya also visited the hospitalised athletes.
Members of the Jordan Squash Federation contacted the players' families, and Nash'at's mother was scheduled to arrive Saturday evening to be at her daughter's bedside.
Nasha't, who also suffered a concussion, is in the intensive care unit after undergoing two operations to fix a fractured jaw and a broken thigh bone.
Four other team members, including Iman Amir and Umniya Abdul Qawi, sustained bruises. They were also reported in stable condition at the same hospital.
Amir won the silver medal and Qawi the bronze in the women's squash championship on Thursday. Nasha't finished eighth in the individual championship, which ended Thursday.
It was not clear whether the Egyptian team was intending to carry on with the team competitions. Sources said Egypt might fly over four other athletes to resume competition in the singles event.