Germany canoe slalom coach Stefan Henze remains in a critical condition after a car crash near the Rio Olympic Park.

The former Olympian and German women's canoe slalom team coach, is in a critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest following the crash, as he was returning to the Athletes' Village in a taxi in the early hours of this morning.

Henze, 35, who won sliver in the C2M Canoe Slalom at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, is believed to have been returning from a night out with colleague Cristian Kaeding, sport scientist for the German canoe team, when the crash happened at around 4.50am.

"He has very, very serious injuries and his condition is life-threatening," team doctor Bernd Wolfahrt said.

Both the driver and Kaeding, had minor injuries and were treated in hospital, but then released.

Initially Henze  was taken to the nearby Lourenco Jorge hospital, but was later transferred to the specialist Miguel Couto hospital in the Leblon district, where he underwent surgery around 10am.

Our thoughts are with Henze and his family who are believed to be travelling to Brazil.

More to follow….

 

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