Russian Bobsleigher To Have Her Leg Amputated After Accident in Germany

Russian bobsleigh athlete Irina Skvortsova, who was severely injured in an accident during a bobsleigh tournament in Germany on November 23, will have her leg amputated. Doctors will perform the surgery as soon as Irina wakes from an induced coma.

Photo: Russian Bobsleigher To Have Her Leg Amputated After Accident in Germany

“Unfortunately, it will not be possible to avoid amputation. An additional expert is expected to arrive to decide on which spot on her leg the surgery will take place. They are doing their best to preserve Irina’s limbs and conduct high-quality prosthetics procedures afterwards,” Nina Grefenstein of Russia’s national bobsleigh team told Vesti FM.

“It is hard to say how Irina feels. Doctors will have to take her out of the coma to see if other organs were injured in the accident. She’s been showing positive reactions so far,” Grefenstein said.

The 21-year-old was severely injured on November 23 during a training session on a bobsleigh track in Konigssee, when the Russian women's team tipped over in the luge and stopped, after which the Russian men's team crashed into them from behind at full speed.

She suffered multiple breakages, including to her hips and back. She has since undergone several operations and remains in intensive care. Russia's Vesti TV reported on Monday that doctors may have to amputate one of her legs.

"Experts from the Russian Federal Bio-Medical Agency together with German doctors examined Irina this morning, and held consultations," said Lyudmila Kozlova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

"The doctors unanimously decided that it is currently impossible to transport the athlete. Doctors will reconsider this issue after a few days," she added.

According to preliminary results of an investigation conducted by German police, the judges in charge of the luge were negligent in the accident. The luge was not closed after the women's bobsleigh turned over, and the judges gave the men's team the go-ahead to descend despite the red light showing, RIA Novosti reports.

The German police have not named those guilty of the accident on the bobsleigh luge in Konigssee. They consider the accident as reckless infliction of bodily harm, like in a car accident.