Etson Barros, a record-holding middle-distance runner for SL Benfica, is in an induced coma after a serious car accident in the Algarve.
The 25-year-old, who holds Portugal’s national record in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, was injured in a crash in the early hours of this Friday morning (April 17) near Olhão.
The accident happened at around 3.39am on the N2-6 road, close to Pechão, as the athlete was returning home after spending time with friends in Faro, reports Correio da Manhã tabloid.
Barros was trapped inside the vehicle and suffered very serious injuries. He was assisted by firefighters and medical teams before being taken to hospital in Faro, where he remains under observation.
In a statement, Benfica confirmed that the athlete is “in an induced coma, under observation, at Faro Hospital”, receiving specialised medical care.
His coach, Paulo Murta, said the prognosis is serious.
“The first concern is his recovery,” Murta told Lusa news agency, adding that the athlete’s condition remains “serious” and “worrying”.
Murta – who has been coaching Barros since he was eight years old – added that the athlete was conscious immediately after the crash, with the coma induced later by medical teams at the hospital. Examinations did not detect any fractures.
The coach also said there were no indications of excessive speed or alcohol involvement and noted that emergency services may have been alerted automatically by the vehicle or the athlete’s phone.
Barros has been national champion in the 3,000 metres steeplechase for the past five years and won silver medals at the European under-23 championships in 2021 and 2023, as well as bronze at the under-20 level in 2019.
He has also represented Portugal at major competitions, including the Tokyo 2025 World Championships and the European Championships in Munich 2022 and Rome 2024.
Planned training, including a high-altitude camp scheduled for May, has now been cancelled as the focus remains on his recovery.
