Hans Grugger, Austrian Skier, Has Brain Operation After Crash

Filed under: Skiing

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) -- Austrian skier Hans Grugger underwent brain surgery Thursday after crashing during a training run for the World Cup downhill on the demanding Streif course.

The Austrian ski federation said Thursday that Grugger was having neurosurgery but declined to reveal more detail until after the operation.

Grugger was brought to a hospital by helicopter in nearby Innsbruck with a brain contusion and a chest injury and was "not responsive," according to federation spokesman Markus Aigner.

Grugger fell after losing balance at the so-called Mausefalle, a long jump shortly after a sharp right turn, and was motionless on the slope.

The hospital medical director Alexandra Kofler told Austrian broadcaster ORF "the patient's condition can only be judged based on the operation and the time immediately afterward."

Grugger was the fifth racer on the course but the first to face troubles in that section.

BHARTI AIRTEL BT GROUP CANON MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS MICROSOFT MILLICOM INTL CELLULAR MOBILE TELESYSTEMS NANYA TECHNOLOGY NII HOLDINGS