Usain Bolt helps dig the grave of close friend Germaine Mason

Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt has helped prepare the grave of his friend and fellow Olympian Germaine Mason.

In a act of deep respect, Bolt – alongside multiple international medallist Michael Frater and former Reggae Boy Ricardo ‘Bibi’ – Gardner his support to Mason’s family in Portland.

Images and videos emerged online of the sprinter hard at work with a pickaxe and spade.

The athlete, how won a silver medal for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, fell from his Honda bike on the Norman Manley highway in East Kingston at around 4am.

He died at the scene.

‘I have to be strong’

Mason was well-known across the Caribbean, having won the world indoor bronze for Jamaica in 2003.

Despite a career-threatening injury that ruled him out until 2004, he switched allegiance to Great Britain in 2006 in a move which rocked Jamaican athletics.

After his death, Bolt posted a tribute on his Instagram page.

🙏

A post shared by Usain St.Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) on Apr 24, 2017 at 2:05am PDT

In recent weeks Bolt has told the media how difficult he has been finding things since Mason’s accident.

He told Jamaica’s Observer Online: “It is very hard on me. Right now, it is very hard on me as we have grown very close over the years from the World Juniors in 2002 and we have come up through the ranks together.

“We have both succeeded in our different events and for me, I have to be strong for the parents and the family. I had to come here and do anything for the family in any way possible and it is just an honour.”

Mason will be buried on Sunday, 22 May, at Grange Hill, Portland, after a funeral service in Kingston.