MILAN, Feb 11 (Reuters) – Australian snowboarder Cameron Bolton has been airlifted to hospital after breaking his neck in a training accident at the Winter Olympics.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said the 35-year-old snowboard cross specialist suffered a serious fall during training on Monday and reported worsening neck pain on Tuesday.
A scan at the Olympic Outpatient Clinic identified two stable neck fractures and Bolton had been transferred to a hospital in Milan for further imaging and assessment, the AOC said in a statement.
Bolton took silver in the mixed team snowboard cross with Mia Clift last year at the world championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
The AOC said it has introduced the Late Athlete Replacement option, which will see Olympic debutant James Johnstone join the team alongside Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes for Thursday’s men’s snowboard cross qualifying.
Australian snowboard halfpipe competitor Misaki Vaughan was also ruled out of the Olympics after suffering a head injury during training on Monday and failing a head impact assessment on Tuesday, the AOC added.
No athlete will replace Vaughan, with Australia being represented by Amelie Haskell and Emily Arthur in the women’s halfpipe qualifying later on Wednesday.
