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Lebanese soccer star Celine Haidar is currently in a medically induced coma following a critical injury sustained from an Israeli airstrike near her residence in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with her future in international competitions now uncertain.
At just 19 years old, Haidar serves as the captain of her club team and has already made two appearances with the national youth team. Undeterred by the escalating violence, she persistently trained while her family sought refuge away from the city, moving to a safer mountain town located east of Beirut.
Determined to continue her practice, she persuaded her parents to let her return home alone, promising to evacuate if there were warnings from the Israeli military regarding impending attacks on her neighborhood.
However, a tragic misstep occurred last Saturday when she failed to receive the evacuation alert while she was asleep. As her parents urged her to leave immediately upon learning of the warning, the window of escape was short.
While attempting to flee on her motorbike, an Israeli warplane struck the vicinity, resulting in shrapnel wounds that have caused significant brain trauma, including multiple skull fractures and bleeding.
As of now, Haidar is being treated in the intensive care unit at Saint George Hospital in Beirut, where she is monitored closely and requires a breathing apparatus, according to her coach, Samer Barbary.
Her parents, Abbas Haidar and Sanaa Shahrour, remain by her side, grappling with the severity of her injuries and holding onto hope for her recovery.
Escalating Violence Results in Thousands of Casualties
Reflecting on his daughter, her father expressed his disbelief and sorrow over the situation. “I never thought I would have a daughter like her. She has dreams and strength. She always told me, ‘You’ll see what I will accomplish tomorrow,'” he shared.
Celine is among over 15,000 individuals injured as a result of Israeli strikes within the past year, with significant escalation noted in the last two months, particularly in the suburbs of Beirut.
The Israeli military asserts that its operations are targeting infrastructure associated with Hezbollah, which maintains strongholds throughout the southern and eastern regions of Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 670 women and over 230 children are included in the casualties, with total deaths exceeding 3,500.
In solidarity, Haidar’s fellow players have displayed a poster at their training ground that reads: “We are waiting for you.”
“She is the cornerstone of our team,” remarked 18-year-old teammate Lama Abdin. “But we will play for her. We will achieve her big dreams.”
Coach Barbary conveyed that Celine had already represented Lebanon twice in the under-19 national team, contributing to the team’s victory in the 2022 West Asia Cup hosted in Lebanon. She was also on the verge of being called up to the senior national squad for the upcoming West Asia championship.
Despite medical uncertainties regarding her recovery, her mother, Sanaa, has maintained an unwavering sense of hope. “I am waiting for you. Don’t give up. You are a hero. Every night, I see you in my dreams, coming back to me,” she confided to reporters.
Source
www.cbc.ca