Hope for Gilbert Jr.

Two weeks after a tragic accident in Orange Walk involving the Ocean Academy High School basketball team from Caye Caulker, there is a glimmer of hope amid the heartbreak. While the incident claimed the life of student Alex Bainton last week, another severely injured student, Gilbert Tec Jr., is showing promising signs of recovery.

Gilbert’s family remains hopeful as he continues to make small but significant strides toward healing. Two nights ago, he briefly opened his eyes from a coma, though he soon went back to sleep. Since then, his recovery has been marked by encouraging upper body movements, offering his loved ones a renewed sense of hope.

Despite these positive developments, Gilbert’s path to recovery is uncertain. He suffered a serious spinal injury, and it remains unclear if he will regain the ability to walk. The accident has been especially painful for his family, as he had recently been accepted to a U.S. university.

The accident occurred when the team’s van blew a tire and overturned multiple times off the highway. Eleven students and a teacher sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash. As the community mourns the loss of Alex Bainton, they continue to rally behind Gilbert and the other injured students, offering prayers, support, and hope for their recovery.