Austrian bobsleigh pilot Jakob Mandlbauer was stretchered off the track and taken to hospital after a crash during the four-man final at the Winter Olympics in Cortina. The incident occurred in the second heat, prompting audible gasps from spectators and an immediate medical response.
Mandlbauer's three teammates escaped the sled and walked back to the athlete area, but the pilot remained on the ice receiving treatment. He was later transported to hospital complaining of neck and back pain, causing a significant delay to the competition.
Team GB's Greg Hackett, whose crew dropped from third to seventh after their second run, told BBC Sport: 'It is a dangerous sport. Thankfully the boys came back up to the changing rooms so his crew are OK. Jakob I think is in hospital but it seems he can move, he's alright.'
Austrian team press attache Christoph Iglhauser confirmed Mandlbauer had avoided serious injury, stating: 'Jakob is on his way to hospital. He's not so bad. It's just a check. Everyone else is fine. No injury, only a check. He'll be fine.'
The second heat proved eventful, with two further crashes involving the French team and Trinidad & Tobago. In both cases, all athletes walked away. Germany's Johannes Lochner leads the standings heading into Sunday's final two heats.
