Australian triathlete Aaron Royle will remain isolated in a Spanish hospital on intravenous antibiotics until doctors have finalised their testing after the Under 23 World Champion was admitted on Monday.
The 23-year-old sought immediate medical advice after coughing up blood following a French Grand Prix race last Sunday.
Initial X-rays showed a 12 millimetre cyst in his left lung, which doctors now believe is an abscess. Results of a bronchoscopy are due today.
Doctors have told Royle to remain in hospital over the next week where he will continue to receive intravenous antibiotics.
Royle said today from his hospital bed: “I’m actually in pretty good spirits at the moment; I’ve had a heap of people wish me well, which has been nice.
“Of course it’s frustrating being in isolation and not being able to leave my room, but there isn’t much I can do about that, I just have to let the doctors do their stuff.
“Thank goodness for wifi in the hospital!!!!
“Although there is a language barrier the nurses and the doctors here have been fantastic and I know they are doing everything they can to make sure they get this diagnosed as soon as possible.
“Triathlon Australia’s High Performance and medical staff have been fantastic and the Specialist who performed the bronchoscopy has given me an update and the initial results have come back negative.
“He is now confident that it is an abscess but what is causing it is unknown. Further results will be back from the bronchoscopy tomorrow.”
June 13th
After hearing the news of Aaron’s diagnosis, the Board, staff and members of Triathlon Australia wish Aaron well for a fast and full recovery.
Australia’s reigning under 23 ITU World Triathlon Champion Aaron Royle remains in a Spanish hospital today undergoing tests after doctors diagnosed a 12 millimetre cyst on his left lung.
The 23-year-old from Wollongong was admitted to a hospital in Vitoria where his Australian team is based for the European summer after coughing up blood.
A shadow showed up on lung x-rays before a respiratory physician determined that a CT scan had showed Royle in fact had a 12mm cyst.
Just two weeks ago Royle produced the race of his life to finish eighth in the ITU World Championship Series event in Madrid against London Olympic silver and bronze medallists Javier Gomez (Spain) and Jonathan Bownlee (Great Britain).
But over the weekend after racing in a local Grand Prix event he was admitted to the private hospital where doctors ordered a series of tests.
He was to undergo a bronchoscopy today, to allow doctors to determine exactly what is causing the problem.
Triathlon Australia’s High Performance Director Bernard Savage said in Melbourne today he and the TA medical director had been in daily contact with Spanish physicians and Royle’s coach Jamie Turner.
“At this stage Aaron will remain in hospital until we determine exactly what the diagnosis is but we are confident he is in safe hands,” said Savage.
“We are certainly taking no chances and Jamie wasted no time in getting Aaron to hospital as soon as possible.
“He has undergone extensive testing and the last report was that Aaron is on the improve but it is important that we know exactly what the problem is and what we are dealing with.
“Our own TA medical director is confident in the process and we will continue to monitor his progress.”
Royle was preparing for the next round of the ITU WCS in Kitzbuhel on July 6 and 7 and was looming as one of the front-runners for the Australian Team for this year’s ITU World Championship grand final in London in September.
