VIDEO: Olympian Thomas Morgenstern horrific ski-jump crash, 2014

  • Breaking
  • 11/01/2014

Three-time Olympic ski jump champion Thomas Morgenstern, one of Austria's leading gold medal hopes for Sochi, was recovering in hospital after suffering his second serious accident in a fortnight.

Morgenstern, 27, training for a weekend event at Kulm, Austria, lost balance in mid-air and land heavily on his back and head before sliding unconscious to the bottom of the slope.

He recovered consciousness and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with "serious skull injuries and a lung contusion," the Austrian ski federation said in a statement.

"Thomas Morgenstern is conscious and is speaking. He will remain under observation for another 72 hours in intensive care," it said.

The doctor treating him, Josef Obrist, was quoted by the Austria Press Agency as saying that Morgenstern's life was not in danger.

"We still have to analyse what took place on video," Austrian team coach Alexander Pointner told Austrian television station ORF.

On December 15, Morgenstern was knocked unconscious after a crash in Titisee-Neustadt, but he recovered to finish second to compatriot Thomas Diethart at the Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen last week.

Morgenstern won individual and team gold at the Turin Olympics and team gold in Vancouver four years later.

AFP

source: newshub archive