Australian snowboarder critical in Spanish hospital

Snowboarder Matthew Robinson is in a critical condition after crashing while competing at the International Paralympic Committee Adaptive Snowboard (IPCAS) World Cup Finals in La Molina, Spain.

The Australian has suffered critical neck and spinal injuries after he crashed in the finish area at the bottom of the first run in his second race at the competition, according to the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC).
The 29-year-old was treated and stabilised by on-site doctors yesterday before being airlifted to the Parc Tauli Sabadell Hospital in Barcelona where he underwent surgery.
The Melbourne-based athlete finished fourth in the first men’s upper limb impairment race of the meeting in La Molina on Tuesday (February 11).
Robinson has competed in three IPCAS World Cup events this season and created history last month by claiming Australia’s first Para-snowboard World Cup gold medal at Copper Mountain in the United States.
A member of the Australian Paralympic winter team’s medical staff is at the hospital in Barcelona and the APC has been in contact with Robinson’s fiancee and family in Australia to offer support.
The APC says it is also currently working with the Australian Embassy in Spain, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia, as well as the Australian Institute of Sport and the IPC to establish the exact details of the incident.
Snowboard cross is due to make its debut at next month’s Sochi Paralympic Winter Games, but Robinson’s classification will not be contested and he was not selected in Australia’s 11-person team.
Further details and an update on Robinson’s condition will be released in due course, according to the APC