Horrillo out of coma after Giro crash
Spain?s Pedro Horrillo has come out of a coma, 24 hours after his terrible crash during Saturday?s eighth stage of the Giro d?Italia to Bergamo.
According to reports from race organisers, Horrillo was able to move his feet and hands despite his terrible injuries. His wife arrived from Spain at lunch time on Sunday.
Horrillo went off the side of the road at high speed on the descent of the Culmine di San Pietro climb, after 65km of Saturday?s stage. According to reports, his bike was found on the road but he fell for 60 metres, suffering multiple fractures to his leg, knee, back and ribs, plus serious upper body injuries and a punctured lung.
Some local mountaineers were the first to reach him and trees were cut down to allow a medical helicopter to lift him from the ravine and evacuate him to Bergamo hospital.
Rabobank spokesman Luuc Eisenga and team doctor Gert Leinders revealed the full extend of Horrillo?s injuries in a special press conference in Bergamo on Saturday evening.
?The situation is very serious but Pedro is stable. After crashing for 60 metres, the situation is a good as one can hope,? the doctor said.
?He was unconscious when he arrived in hospital but came round while being treated. The doctors then put him in an induced coma so they can treat him better. He is stable but the problem is that complications could emerge and so we have to be careful and not be too optimistic. We have to wait for the first 24 hours after the crash.?
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
?He?s got fractures in his upper leg, his knee and has several vertebrae fractures at both cervical and thorax level. He also has a very complicated trauma on his chest. His ribs have punctured lungs and that caused a lot of blood loss. At this moment the most difficult problem to treat is his breathing because of those ribs fractures and thorax injuries.?
?The good news is that the scan of his head and brain were negative. At the moment the doctors are waiting to see what complications emerge and trying to treat his respiratory problems.?
Luuc Eisenga explained how the accident happened: ?We understand that he made a mistake on the descent of San Pietro. His bike was on the road but didn?t find him. He was 60 metres down the slope,? Eisenga said.
?They had to cut trees to allow the helicopter to land but the directeur sportif said the race doctors did a great job. It?s a difficult moment for all of us but especially for his wife and children. Our thoughts go out to them.?
Those thoughts are shared by everyone who rides a bike and knows the dangers of our sport.
Giro d'Italia 2009 links |
Stage reports
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
Photo galleries
News
No sympathy for Armstrong from Giro boss
Boasson Hagen celebrates his birthday early
Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen
Armstrong 'livid' at dangerous Giro stage
Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages
Armstrong sees Leipheimer in pink
Giro news round-up: 14 May
Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'
Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall
Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'
Cavendish looking for Giro revenge
Armstrong happy with stage four performance
Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead
Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team
Vande Velde crashes out of Giro
Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash
Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey
Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav
I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish
Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial
Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up
Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial
Team time trial start times
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction
Brits in Venice for Giro presentation
Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation
Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana
Armstrong working to save Astana team
Wiggins in top form for Giro
Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener
Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up
Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled
Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride
Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia
Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie
David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro
Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints
2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice
Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride
Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro
Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route
Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey
2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
British riders to have led the grand tours
CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia
2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1