For the past month, Usain Bolt has left the track behind to walk Jamaica’s broken backroads, going village to village to help families hit hardest by Hurricane Melissa. The storm caused $8.8 billion in damage, 41% of the nation’s GDP, pushing communities to the brink. Through it all, Bolt has stayed on the ground, delivering aid, checking on survivors, and doing whatever it takes to help Jamaica get back up.

Usain Bolt, the man who put Jamaica on the global map and retired in 2017, has once again stepped up for his country. Recently, on Instagram, the world’s fastest man shared how he’s been helping families rebuild after the devastation, providing mattresses, food, and other essential items for survival. Captioning the post with, “Born Sprinter but this one will be a Marathon.” He promised a comeback no one was ready for.

“This time we went to Black River and West Holland. We are listening to the people. A lot of people, you know, said they want mattresses. So we have bought 400 mattresses and brought them to the side of the country.” said Bolt.

St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland were the hardest hit by the hurricane, with entire communities, including the port town of Black River, nearly wiped out. Homes were flattened entirely, and debris covered every corner. Critical infrastructure, such as roads, schools, and hospitals, was the worst hit, suffering severe damage. Across the entire nation, 4.8 million tonnes of debris blocked the roads, severely hampering relief efforts.

Over 100,000 housing units were affected by the Hurricane, with damage reaching 90% in some areas. In addition, the farmland suffered the worst, with 40,000 hectares impacted by the hurricane. According to estimates, the country has suffered massive agricultural losses of $188 million.

“This is a seaside community. What would have happened here is that the sea would have come in, and a number of the homes were destroyed—homes destroyed, everything in the house gone. And when you lose your house, you lose everything in it. So people have lost mattresses for their entire family, and most households here have lost more than one mattress. This will go a far way in helping them to build back. I want to thank Usain Bolt,” said the people.

Usain Bolt and his team have been on the ground helping devastated communities for weeks now. Since October 28th, the fastest man alive has been calling for support to help rebuild his country, and the world has responded. Donations have been pouring in to fuel Bolt’s relief mission, and the momentum keeps growing. In one of the standout contributions, the Brussels Diamond League stepped up with a massive $100,000 donation to aid the recovery efforts. It’s a powerful show of solidarity, proving once again that Bolt’s influence reaches far beyond the track.

“For me, I will continue to work hard and try to give back as much as possible. It won’t be my last trip anywhere. We’re just listening on the ground, working with a few MPs to figure out what exactly people want and in which corner of the country,” said Bolt at the end of the video.

His relief efforts towards his country continue with unwavering determination. This comes despite the devastating news that a fire recently broke out at his restaurant.

Usain Bolt was hit by an unforeseen tragedy in his relief efforts

Last week, Usain Bolt was hit with devastating news when he learned that his Montego Bay restaurant, Tracks & Records, suffered major damage to its upper section after a sudden fire. Already grappling with the aftermath of the hurricane, the establishment had been operating without electricity, relying solely on generators. Following the fire, the restaurant has been temporarily closed.

“The fire was confined to the upper floors, which hold the dining area, bar, restrooms, and an office space. But as it relates to getting the property owners to do their evaluation of the items they had stored, that will determine the full cost. Based on observation, the extent appears to be significant,” said Acting Superintendent Oneil Kerr, the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s lead investigator for St James.

After the hurricane, the restaurant remained closed to the public, but it continued to serve the community as the World Central Kitchen operated from its premises. According to Kerr, the fire station received the alarm at 1:48 a.m., likely from members of the meal-preparation team who arrived early and discovered the flames.

“Upon arrival, the team observed fire coming from the roof of Tracks and Records. They immediately got into operation, and within a few minutes, the situation was brought under control,” Kerr confirmed.

A week has passed, and despite the fire, Usain Bolt has not stopped helping the people of his country. Given his efforts, Usain Bolt has drastically changed the lives of many individuals.