more than 8 years life changed dramatically Pablo Otárola. A rude, firm, rough defender, one of those old-fashioned ones who like, delight and perform on the pitch, was involved in a violent accident that would end his sports career.
Was the Friday March 20, 2015 when fate decided to put one of the greatest tests that exist on the shoulders of a warm, charismatic player, faithful to his teambut that inside the field he was fighting all the balls and it was even rocky for his adversaries.
The collision with a Hopper truck in the town of Cajón, some eight kilometers north of Temuco, put an end to the race of Pablo and everything changed for him and his family.
Today, 8 years later, Otárolaat that time a player for Deportes Temuco, continues to fight to continue his brave story of effort, accompanied by his family who have not ceased to be with him.
The complicated diagnosis: “1% chance of survival”
The diagnosis was lapidary. Pablo had a 1% chance of survival and the doctors reported that, with luck, the defender would remain in a vegetable state.
However, just like on the pitch, the former Curicó also started a fight that continues to this day.
This is confirmed to BioBioChile Andreaone of the sisters of the former defender of the box ‘Pije’, who provides details of the process and the gradual evolution that Pablo has presented over time.
“The process has been slow, the truth is that Pablo continues with 3 kinesiologists daily for 365 days a year. This has been going on for a long time since 2017 to date, but she does not lose her smile and for us that is tremendous, ”she explains with emotion.
Andrea also commented that The therapies have worked both physically and psychologically for his brother, specifying that “an autonomy has been achieved within everything and that has been thanks to the accompaniment they have provided the boys and girls kinesiologistswhere I want to emphasize the help of Yerkowho has been with Pablo since he left the clinic in 2016″.
“Pablo already knows him, he waits for him, Yerko speaks to him and he smiles, raises his hands trying to express himself and that is important because they are good stimuli that he interprets and makes him feel encouraged,” he said.
Johana, another sister, specifies that “Regarding any neuronal evolution, there has not been much improvementbut he still laughs, raises his hands, is happy when he sees people, all those things and for us as a family it makes us happy, since we know that he manages to be conscious and tries to express it”.
The negligence of Deportes Temuco: “We never received help from them again”
But, as expected, not everything has been rosy. The unfortunate event occurred when Pablo Otárola was a member of Sports Temuco.
However, although there was an initial rapprochement, cast chaired by Marcelo Salas gradually moved awaylike many over time.
This is how Andrea tells it, who remembers that “the truth is that (Temuco) at the time helped to buy one of the machines so that Pablo could return home, and that was basically the only in terms of economics.”
“But after, we never get help from them again. In addition, when the accident happened, Pablo had left only 2 months of contract with them and after fulfilling them, they separated him. I received the signed letter from the labor inspectorate and it appeared that he was unrelated. We understood it for legal reasons, but outside of that, nothing, ”he clarifies.
Johana confirms it: “After my brother came home from the clinic, There was no contact with the club”.
“What interests us the most is the family, their friends, that more than anything… Those who are always going to be asking questions and all that, then it’s like the rest doesn’t matter too much to us,” he says.
“Gamadiel García and Sifup always cooperate with us”
Of course, at the other extreme, Andrea highlights the vital support that has been up to the present Gamadiel Garciacurrent president of Sifup.
“They were partners during their period in Huachipato and the truth is that they never cut ties. Gamadiel began to come to our house at that time and a friendship at family level“.
“It is a relationship that goes beyond what is professional. Then Gamadiel was elected president of the Sifup and thanks to that, to this day they cooperate with us. They are in charge of delivering the cloths to us in deliveries that are made every semester”, he mentions.
In addition, Andrea acknowledges that “when he is in Concepción, he always takes the time to come and see him. When Gamadiel lived in ‘Conce’ and the nurses could not attend, he and his wife helped us and accompanied us to take care of my brother. We are very grateful for everything he has done.”
Johana also highlights the work of García. “He has given us his support. Every six months they show up with diapers for our brother and in addition to the help he gave us at the beginning, he has been a great support for us”, affirms Pablo’s sister.
“We thank Gamadiel García, the kinesiologists, fans and everyone who at some point has been present with Pablo and us. It has been a super complicated and hard process, but thank God, my brother keeps pretty stable and with us he has everything he needs to be able to handle this situation in a good way”, he added.
The eternal love of the fans
If there is something that has kept Pablo and his family firm and hopeful all the time, it is the love that fans have given him, especially those of the different shirts defended.
Johana is extremely moved by this, “The fans and supporters of the clubs that have been they keep asking about my brother and we told him and we noticed that he gladsince he is aware of everything we mentioned to him ”.
“People are constantly sending messages, asking for him. What stands out the most is that Pablo left a beautiful memory in United Curicosince they are a group of fans who consult for him the most”, says Andrea.
“Throughout time it has remained and despite only being there for about a year, The fans are always on the lookout and ask for him”express.
Thus, accompanied by his sisters and inner circle, and the support of few, Pablo Otárola continues his life. With difficulties, but also with an immense love that allows him to make an effort to stay alive. A fight that he hopes to continue giving for many years.
Given what was indicated by the family of Pablo Otárola about the scant support that existed from the cadre of Temuco After the long months of anguish that they lived through, BioBioChile contacted the club where they denied the arguments presented and ruled that “it’s false”.
“The closeness we had with Pablo He was intermediate to the former general manager of the club, Gerardo Navarretehe provided the help that corresponded, in addition, together with Milton Flores who was the sports manager of our team at that time, they supported the family and provided support to the situation of the former player”, they sentenced from Deportes Temuco.