The Swiss skier Daniel Albrecht is in an induced coma after a serious crash on the Streif downhill course at Kitzbühel in Austria.
Albrecht lost control after flying through the air for about 40 metres, landed on his back and came to a stop near the finish line. He received medical attention before being taken by helicopter to a hospital in nearby St Johann, where he briefly regained consciousness before being placed in an artificial coma. He was then transferred to the University Clinic of Innsbruck, race doctor Helmutt Obermoser said.
Albrecht has been diagnosed with concussion and a lung contusion (bruising) and is undergoing further examination.
The 25-year-old Albrecht has four career World Cup victories; three in giant slalom and one in super-combi. He has two giant slalom wins this season, at Sölden, Austria, and Alta Badia, Italy, and is eighth in the overall World Cup standings.
The crash was similar to that of the American Scott Macartney last year on the Streif. He suffered a brain contusion after slamming his head on the snow and was out for the season.
Organisers lowered the final jump of the course after Macartney's crash and clearly marked the natural wave so racers would be able to better time their jump.
In yesterday's first training session ahead of this weekend's Hahnenkamm races, Austria's Michael Walchhofer almost fell backwards at the same point where Albrecht crashed. "The wind pushed the front of my skis up so I was lifted in the air," Walchhofer said. "That was quite extreme. I totally underestimated that jump."
Today's training session was interrupted for half an hour before resuming. Bode Miller of the United States posted the fastest time after the first 30 racers.
