Posted on 05/19/2022 at 3:23 p.m.,
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay experienced an emotional lift on Tuesday, May 17. Grand winner of the 10th stage of the Tour of Italy, the cyclist injured his eye with a champagne cork. We take stock of this type of accident in everyday life with Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
The tenth stage of the Giro, the Tour of Italy, ended in the town of Jesi. It was won by Biniam Girmay, the first black cyclist to win a stage in a Grand Tour. He therefore climbed the podium to celebrate his victory with a bottle of champagne, as is the tradition.
A plug in the eye
This is where the tragedy occurs: in wanting to open the bottle placed in front of him, Biniam Girmay has the reflex to lean over it, his face then finding himself directly facing the cork. Cork who jumped, hit him directly in the left eye.
Quickly taken to the hospital to consult an ophthalmologist, the 22-year-old cyclist posted a video on Twitter yesterday thanking his team and saying that his Tour of Italy ended there, because he needed a rest. Fortunately for him, he will not have any after-effects from this unfortunate incident.
A party accident
Asked about the subject, Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, recalls that this type of accident occurs especially during the holiday season, between Christmas and New Year’s Day, but also in the summer. occasion of weddings or during various celebrations.
“The important point of prevention to emphasize is that you never, really never, even for fun, direct a bottle of champagne towards someone. When we have to open it, we point the cork towards the sky, to prevent any accident” first insists the specialist
An ophthalmological emergency consultation as soon as possible
And if, despite these precautions, an accident occurs, the person affected must cover their eyes with a sterile or at least clean compress and be taken to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. “You have to find out where to go: it’s either to the emergency room of your city which has an emergency ophthalmology service, or a liberal ophthalmologist who has emergency slots and failing that, a call to the SAMU by dialing 15 “ concludes the doctor.