‘I drove to hospital with bullet in my head’

Published on Friday 17 February 2012 12:04

NEW Hibs star Jorge Claros today told of the terrifying carjacking attack in his home country – and how he had to drive himself to hospital despite being shot in the head.

The Honduran midfield star, nicknamed Pitbull, spoke about the high-profile attack to the Evening News for the first time since joining the Easter Road club.

He and his wife were pounced on by two gunmen last June as they dropped off a friend in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula.

The 26-year-old was shot twice, but despite having bullets embedded in his head and left shoulder, the player managed to drive himself to a nearby hospital, where his injuries were found not to be as serious as first feared.

Incredibly, the bullet that hit his head failed to penetrate his skull and the midfielder was back playing for his side Club Deportivo Motagua within a month.

Claros, one of eight January signings made by Easter Road boss Pat Fenlon, spoke about the attack as he prepared for Sunday’s showdown with SPL leaders Celtic and his close friend and former Motagua team-mate Emilio Izaguirre.

He said: “My wife and I were dropping off a friend in the street in the early evening when these two people came from nowhere and started shooting with a handgun.

“I don’t know who they were, I’d never seen them before. It all happened so quickly and staying alive was more important at that moment.

“I saw one bullet had hit the windscreen but I also had one stuck in my head and another in my shoulder.

“Elsa, as you can imagine, was terrified. She was in a state of shock at what had happened. I managed to drive us to a hospital. Luckily, I wasn’t seriously injured but it’s a miracle to be alive.”

Gun attacks are not uncommon in Honduras and Claros’ assailants were never traced by police.

To this day, the player doesn’t know the motive for the attack, whether it was an attempt to steal his car – a Chevrolet he had bought from Emilio Izaguirre – or on him personally as a well-known football player.

He said: I was so happy to be alive it inspired me even more to play football. I rested for 12 to 15 days and a month later I began playing football again.”

Bizarrely, the midfielder was involved in a second shooting incident last year when keeper Donaldo Morales shot a reporter with an airgun.

Claros was being grilled when Morales burst into the room and shot the journalist three times because he had criticised his performances.

Related Articles

• The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip

  In today’s Rumour Mill: Honduran international set for Rangers trial; Jaager looks to win Ibrox deal; Hooper is ‘priceless’ to Celtic; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

  109 Comments

• Hibs go down to the wire on transfer deadline

  Hibs manager Pat Fenlon will use every minute leading up to tonight’s transfer deadline to attempt to strengthen his squad.

  137 Comments

• New signing Jorge Claros aims to lift Hibs

  Star signing Jorge Claros has targeted the “right results” to help lift Hibs from the foot of the SPL table after becoming one of four deadline day arrivals at Easter Road.

  59 Comments

• Hibs: Pat Fenlon brings in four new faces, while Hart and Sodje leave club

  PAT Fenlon’s re-shaping of Hibernian continued yesterday after the Easter Road club confirmed the signings of former Rangers target Jorge Claros, Gambian left-back Pa Saikou Kujabi and Wolves defender Matt Doherty.

  161 Comments

• Hibs signing Jorge Claros has debut on hold

  Hibs’ shock signing Jorge Claros has had his debut put on hold as the Easter Road club complete the necessary paperwork to secure the Honduran midfield star’s work permit, the Evening News can reveal today.

  107 Comments

Comments

There are 5 comments to this article

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

5

jerrymanders

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:59 PM

He certainly dodged a bullet in this country too.

• Report Unsuitable

4

Tartancult

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:47 PM

"Claros was being grilled" I prefer mine deep fried...

• Report Unsuitable

3

Niebiosa tam sa naprawde nieskrzydlowe ludzie tam

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 03:00 PM

How I drove to hospital with my head in a duffle bag

• Report Unsuitable

2

Sally Longlegs

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 02:58 PM

Pitbull ? We need to put the pitbulls down here. Too many bams using them as weaponsuniform.

• Report Unsuitable

1

Uncle Buck

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:15 PM

Comment removed by moderator

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.