Luge Death At Olympics – Vancouver Olympics luge contender Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a horrific crash on Whistler mountain just hours before the opening ceremony.
Olympic officials say that Kumaritashvili lost control of his luge sled at 80 mph, bouncing off both walls of the final and most dangerous turn on the course – an extremely sharp 270 degree turn – before flying over the edge and hitting an unpadded metal pole head first.
Track and medical workers dashed to his side and began performing CPR as an ambulance raced to the side of the track.
21-year-old Kumaritashvili was then placed on a stretcher with blood literally pouring from his head and taken away in an ambulance.
An International Olympic Committee official confirmed that the Georgian luger died before reaching the hospital.
Luge training runs were suspended as Olympic officials met to review the situation as there has been speculation that the track is too fast.
The Whistler course at the vancouver Olympics is considered to be both the fastest and most dangerous in the world.
Nodar Kumaritashvili was one of just eight athletes in Georgia’s Olympic delegation and Georgia is reportedly considering withdrawing their team.
And that’s the latest from Action News on the Luge Death At Olympics.
Tags: luge accident, luge crash, luge death, luge death at olympics, Nodar Kumaritashvili, vancouver olympics
June 16th, 2010 at 11:02 am
RIP!