Tarique Bailey, the reigning Mr. World Caribbean 2024, is counting his blessings after surviving a severe traffic accident that occurred this past Sunday on Fairview Avenue in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The incident involved a collision between his motorcycle and a taxi, resulting in his hospitalization.
In an exclusive interview, Bailey recounted the harrowing experience to Observer Online. He was en route from Kingston to Spanish Town when the accident transpired shortly after 5:00 pm. His recollection of the event is fragmented. ‘The last thing I remember is a car swerving. I heard it was a taxi, and then I was in the air, and I woke up at the Spanish Town Hospital,’ he stated, describing the sudden and violent nature of the crash.
Following the incident, Bailey initially communicated his condition to the public through an Instagram story, posting a somber image of himself confined to a wheelchair with visible bandages on his hand and foot. Elaborating on his injuries, he detailed, ‘I got a cut on the left foot… It’s not as bad as the right foot. The right foot suffered more damage.’ He also reported experiencing significant neck pain, which he attributed to spending approximately 24 hours in a wheelchair during his hospital observation.
Despite the trauma and physical pain, the model and delivery rider has been discharged from medical care. He revealed that doctors initially recommended a CT scan; however, after a full day of monitoring, they determined it was no longer necessary.
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Bailey expressed profound thankfulness for his survival. He emphasized the potential for a far more tragic outcome, noting, ‘I am grateful because I was unconscious; anything could have happened. I could have hit my head badly. I could not have woken up.’ His perspective remains overwhelmingly positive amidst the recovery, concluding, ‘Even though I feel pain, I am grateful to be here. It could have been much worse.’