Chris Del Bosco suffers 4 rib fractures, bruised lung

By CBC Sports

Canadian ski cross racer Chris Del Bosco sustained four rib fractures, a bruised lung, and a pelvis fracture, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Twitter.

The COC also reiterated that the 35-year-old remains in stable condition and is being monitored.

The Montreal resident lost control mid-air as his head whipped back, leading to an awkward fall on his right side during the men's 1/8 final on Wednesday.

"He wasn't in a very good position when he hit that [jump]," said Canadian coach Stanley Hayer. "He was probably butt on bindings. That's not good when you're going straight up."

Medics attended to Del Bosco immediately on the scene at Phoenix Snow Park.

[VIDEO src="56212"]

After staying down for approximately 15 minutes, Del Bosco gave a thumbs-up as he was being carried off the hill on a stretcher.

Shortyly after the race, Dr. Bob McCormack, Chief Medical Officer for Team Canada, told CBC Sports that Del Bosco — who was sitting last and tried to climb through the air to put himself in qualifying position — had a suspected pelvis injury.

"He got a little bit antsy I think," said Hayer. "He forgot where he was between turn six and seven, did a single instead of a double. Then he got back in the draft and he would have blown by [the others]. He's got probably the fastest skis in the world.

"He just missed his press and then got squished [jumped too far] and you saw what happened."

'It's a pretty dangerous sport'

Del Bosco finished fourth in the event in 2010, and was looking to earn his first Olympic medal.

France's Terence Tchiknavorian and Christoph Wahrstoetter of Austria also suffered injuries during the event and were taken away on medical sleds.

Canadian Brady Leman, who finished fourth in Sochi, went on to capture gold, but said Del Bosco would have been tough to beat if he could have stayed in the race.

"It sucks, it's a teammate," said Leman. "Del was skiing super, super fast. In training he was one of the top guys every day. So he would have been tough to beat I think if he could have stayed on his feet.

"It's too bad. I hope he's all right. It's a pretty dangerous sport."

With files from The Canadian Press