Freestyler Magomed Zainalov, 24, miraculously survived the accident.
The accident happened in Rostov-on-Don. PDO
Russian freestyler Magomed Zainalov24, fell from the tenth floor of an apartment building last January in Rostov.
Zainalov had seen a cat climbing on the windowsill of the balcony. The Russian hunter decided to save the cat, but faltered dramatically himself. He hit the roof of the car and fell from it onto the asphalt. Miraculously, he survived.
There were three surgeries ahead. According to the doctors, Zainalov needs to learn to walk again.
Russian state news channel Match TV interviewed Zainalov. The contestant said that he is still suffering from pain without a break.
– Just moving is very painful. But I’m already positive. I am waiting to start a new life.
Then Zainalov told what he had time to think during the fall.
– I realized that it would be the beginning of the end. I recited the shahada (Islamic creed). Then I just fell, but at the same time I hoped that I would survive. I pulled myself together and raised my hands to protect my head. I don’t usually do that in matches, he said.
– I don’t remember hitting the ground, but I remember the first minutes there. I thought everything is fine, wonderful. I couldn’t get up even though I tried.
He had nerve damage in his right leg. Painkillers don’t seem to work either.
Plans changed
Moments before the accident, Zainalov had changed his clothes and prepared to go eat a gyro.
– I still haven’t eaten it.
– I have four cats. Venom, whom I rescued from the balcony, is just a puppy. He hasn’t been able to come to the hospital because he defecates a little carelessly inside.
Later in the hospital, Zainalov was shown a video of him lying on the asphalt.
– I thought, oh my, how embarrassing I looked without a t-shirt.
According to Zainalov, false claims were spread on social media that the owner of the car would demand compensation from the contestant for damages. The car was left in rough condition after the impact.
– We are on very good terms. Repairing the car costs the owner around 3,000–4,000 euros.
Dagestani Zainalov has fought 14 times in a freestyle professional cage. There have been five wins, nine losses.