Press Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2008
Media Contact:
Vail Valley Medical center contact: Jonathan Hoehn, PIO – 970.479.5131
Aksel Lund Svindal Stable after downhill crash
VAIL, Colo. – November 28, 2007 – Vail Valley Medical Center – In stable condition after his stunning crash during the opening Birds of Prey Downhill training run, Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal, the defending World Cup overall champion, is recovering comfortably at Vail Valley Medical Center. According to Dr. Andrew Lawrence, surgeon, “Aksel sustained multiple contusions and bruises to his face, as well as a laceration to his thigh. He also underwent minor abdominal surgery overnight, but is expected to make a full recovery.”
Svindal crashed off the Golden Eagle Jump and into The Abyss during Tuesday’s training run. He broke his nose and cheek bones in three different places as well as making a cut deep into his upper left leg with his ski during the crash. Svindal was attended to on the course by Jason Moore, PA, of the Vail Valley Medical Center trauma team and members of the Beaver Creek ski patrol, and taken off the course by ambulance to the Medical Center.
Norwegian men’s alpine head coach Marius Arnesen said at the Captains’ Meeting Tuesday evening after the training said that there is no timetable for Svindal’s return in the near future. Svindal, the Birds of Prey’s defending super-combined champion, will not race at Beaver Creek this year. “That’s not the interest right now,” Arnesen said. “The only thing is that he gets healthy. We still don’t know how deep the (leg) injury is. We are focusing on that he gets all the best medical treatment, that he is getting healthy. For sure, he is not racing here and I think it will take some time before he is ready.”
Svindal arrived at Vail Valley Medical Center at about 1pm, officials said, where medical staff immediately began to attend to his treatment needs. “The team physician, coach, teammates and family are all extremely relieved that Aksel has been under such excellent medical care,” said Jonathan Hoehn, spokesman for Vail Valley Medical Center. “Aksel is very positive about his quick recovery and return to racing,” said Hoehn. Svindal will be kept at the medical center for a few more days to minimize the possibility of infection and assure that there are no further complications.
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