Boeckmans brought out of induced coma after Vuelta crash

Lotto-Soudal rider Kris Boeckmans is no longer in an induced coma, his team reports, 12 days after a crash at the Vuelta a España left him with a multitude of severe injuries.

Boeckmans, winner of both the Tour de Picardie and World Ports Classic this season, suffered facial trauma, a concussion, three broken ribs and bleeding of the lung, among other injuries, in the stage eight crash that also knocked Dan Martin and Tejay van Garderen out of the race.

Doctors at the hospital in Murcia decided on September 1 to keep Boeckmans in the medically induced coma for at least a week as his injuries made it too difficult for him to breathe on his own.

On Thursday (September 10), Boeckmans was removed from the coma and it was found that there were no hidden injuries from the crash.

In a press release, Lotto-Soudal announced that Boeckmans will be taken back to a Belgian hospital in the coming days to continue his recovery, but for now he is able to talk with his family and doctors.