A BOBSLED HAS crashed into a course worker at the Olympic Games’ Sanki sliding centre today leaving the man with both legs broken.
The incident occurred at the start of training for the two-man bobsleigh competition when the forerunner bob, which is used to clear and test the track at the beginning of the day’s schedule, hit a track worker.
Video footage shown on the media mixed zone’s monitors just minutes after the incident showed paramedics and volunteers trying to evacuate the man who was lying on track.
Sochi officials later confirmed the incident which took place between the exit of the final curve and the finish line and that training had been delayed, but it is unclear why the worker was in the braking zone.
“The information we have so far, says IOC president Thomas Bach, “is that he suffered two compound fractures in the legs, but arrived conscious at the hospital.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation. Our Medical Director is getting in touch with the medical services; we’ve been in touch with the Organising Committee and the International Federation; but so far we do not have any further information.”
Safety at sliding tracks was also a major issue in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver after Georgian 21-year-old luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died after a crash during a training descent.
The Sanki track will stage the luge team relay gold medal event today.
