Swiss Daniel Albrecht was in an artificial coma yesterday after crashing heavily in training for tomorrow's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria, race organizers said. Albrecht, winner of two giant slaloms this season, lost his balance on the last jump of the Streif piste, fell and lost consciousness.

Swiss Daniel Albrecht was in an artificial coma yesterday after crashing heavily in training for tomorrow's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria. [Sohu.com]

The combined world champion, 25, was flown to hospital in Innsbruck, where he briefly regained consciousness before being placed in an artificial coma. The crash was similar to that of Scott Macartney last year on the Streif. The American suffered a brain contusion after slamming his head on the snow and was out for the season.

(Shanghai Daily January 23, 2009)