• Ellington and Nigel Levine in motorbike accident in Tenerife • ‘I do not know how me or Nigel are still alive,’ posts Ellington

James Ellington has said he does not know how he and Nigel Levine are still alive after the British pair were left with injuries that are likely to end their careers following a head-on collision with a car during a training camp in Tenerife.

David Weir ‘let down again’ as he attacks British Athletics before retiring Read more

Ellington, who competed for Team GB in the 100m and 4x100m relay at the Rio Olympics in August, was the pillion on a motorbike being ridden by Levine, who represented Britain at the Games in the 4x400m relay, when it crashed into a car allegedly being driven on the wrong side of the road on Tuesday evening.

There is no suggestion Levine, an experienced motorcyclist, did anything wrong. Unconfirmed reports from Spain suggest the driver of the car was a tourist unused to driving on the right-hand side of the road.

Ellington had surgery to repair a broken tibia and fibula on Wednesday. The 31-year-old, who was wearing a helmet, is understood to have two fractures in an eye socket and to have broken his pelvis. He will undergo at least one more operation in Spain.

His mother and girlfriend flew out on Wednesday night to comfort him and he posted a message on Instagram: “I truly am blessed as I do not know how me or my training partner Nigel are still alive. Me and him are both strong characters and will be looking to bounce back from this horrific accident.”

Overwhelmed and truly touched by everyone's messages and support, I truly am blessed as I do not know how me or my training partner Nigel are still alive. Me and him are both strong characters and will be looking to bounce back from this horrific accident. A photo posted by James Ellington (@jimmyells) on Jan 18, 2017 at 9:34am PST

Levine’s injuries are serious but not as extensive. He will need surgery to stabilise his pelvis before leaving hospital and could require another operation in the UK.

Both men’s injuries are severe enough to rule them out for the rest of this year at the very minimum and the chances of them returning to top-class competition look slim.

After the Guardian broke the news on Wednesday lunchtime, their team-mates took to social media to express their horror at what had happened. Ellington said he had been “overwhelmed and truly touched”. Another member of Team GB’s 4x100m squad Richard Kilty, who had been with Ellington and Levine in Spain, wrote: “Jimmy is one of the toughest mates I know and absolutely gutted and heartbroken out here.”

He added: “Pray for Nigel! Devastated for both of them. Such an unfortunate accident, both strong and will be fighting through.”

Adam Gemili, who along with Kilty and Ellington was a member of the relay team who finished fifth in Rio, wrote: “Please can you all keep a space in your prayers for James and Nigel. Absolutely gutted to hear this news.” Greg Rutherford, the London 2012 long jump champion, also tweeted his condolences, saying: “Terrible news. I really hope you can come back from this guys. All the very best.”

Adam Gemili (@Adam_Gemili) Please can you all keep a space in your prayers for @Jellington100m and @NigelLevine. Absolutely gutted to hear this news. Stay strong guys! https://t.co/8ghO32CABG

Dina Asher-Smith, the British record-holder in the 100m and 200m, tweeted: “Please send your love and save a space in your prayers for our boys, James and Nigel, absolutely heartbroken.”

Ellington made news in 2012 when he was so desperate to qualify for the Olympics he auctioned himself on eBay to raise funds for his training campaign. After an anonymous £32,500 bid was shown to be a hoax he was sponsored by the King of Shaves and went on to compete in the London Games in the 200m.

In 2005 he was involved in an incident in which he claimed he had been dragged from a car by police, thrown to the ground and kneed in the back after being mistaken for a suspected armed robber.

For many years he has been a mainstay of the relay team, helping Britain win 4x100m gold in the 2014 and 2016 European championships and a relay silver in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2016 he enjoyed his best year, setting a 100m personal best of 10.04sec and running a wind‑assisted 9.96 at the British trials to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

The 27-year-old Levine has helped Britain win eight world and European 4x400m relay medals, including gold at the 2014 European championships and 2013 European indoor championships. He also won indoor individual 400m silver at the 2013 European tournament.

A British Athletics spokesman said: “Regretfully we can confirm that James Ellington and Nigel Levine have sustained injuries following a road accident in Tenerife.

“Both athletes are receiving medical treatment and are conscious and stable. British Athletics medical staff are with the athletes and liaising with hospital staff over their treatment.

“We are in communication with their family members in the UK and will be keeping them informed of the situation,” he added. We will not be releasing further information on the severity of their injuries at the present time.”