Markus Schairer, an Austrian snowboarder, broke his neck during a crash in the Winter Olympics.
Schairer broke the fifth cervical vertebra in his neck when he crashed his snowboard during the men’s snowboard cross quarterfinals Thursday, Feb. 15, Yahoo Sports reported.
He landed on his back during a jump, showing that his head snapped back and hit the snow.
After lying on the ground for several moments, he got back up but appeared to be in pain. He was rushed to a nearby hospital after that.
The Austrian Olympic Committee announced that he suffered a fracture of the fifth vertebra, but he’s in stable condition.
“Neurological impairments are not present,” and “consequential damage can currently be ruled out,” the organization said, adding that he suffered an elbow injury. The crash caused his goggles to fall off.
The report said that Schairer will be taken back to Austria for more treatment.
Schairer, 30, was in fourth place. He crashed on an earlier run and injured his elbow.
Schairer competed during the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. In the 2010 X Games, he broke his ribs in a crash, according to USA Today Sports. In 2013, he broke a joint and tore ligaments in his shoulder.
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