Spanish rider Juan Matute Guimon, 22, is in hospital in Madrid in critical condition in a coma and suffering from brain bleeding. A CT scan was performed to determine the cause of the bleed, followed by a three-hour surgery on Wednesday afternoon, but his condition remains critical.
He had reportedly been experiencing severe headaches for a few days, then collapsed following a training session and lapsed into unconsciousness. After being airlifted via helicopter to a city hospital, doctors diagnosed the Olympic short-listed rider with severe brain bleeding and listed his condition as critical. The cause is as yet unknown and further testing is expected.
He is being watched over in hospital by his father, former Spanish team rider Juan Matute Azpitarte and his mother Maria. Juan Sr has commented, “As a positive young man he is fighting to win the big competition of his life.”
Matute, the 2015 European Junior Kur champion, rode Quantico on the Spanish team at the 2018 Tryon WEG, and aboard Don Diego had qualified for the COVID-cancelled 2020 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. He is 64th on the FEI World Rankings and is based at Cristina Khamidoulin’s stable in Moraleja de Enmedio, Spain.
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