Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht had been skiing in practice for the Kitzbuhel downhill when he misjudged the final jump and flew 40 meters through the air.
Switzerland's Daniel Albrecht had been skiing in practice for the Kitzbuhel downhill when he misjudged the final jump and flew 40 meters through the air.
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He initially landed on his back, his skis breaking before slamming face down on the snowy surface just a few meters away from the finish line.
He initially landed on his back, his skis breaking before slamming face down on the snowy surface just a few meters away from the finish line.
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The Swiss skier, a rising star of the sport, was knocked unconscious immediately and only briefly regained consciousness before being placed into a medically induced coma.
The Swiss skier, a rising star of the sport, was knocked unconscious immediately and only briefly regained consciousness before being placed into a medically induced coma.
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Medical teams rushed to the aid of Albrecht, who suffered a brain trauma and a bruised lung in the incident in 2009.
Medical teams rushed to the aid of Albrecht, who suffered a brain trauma and a bruised lung in the incident in 2009.
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Moments before the accident, Albrecht, a five-time World Cup winner, had been traveling at some 140 km/h (87 mph).
Moments before the accident, Albrecht, a five-time World Cup winner, had been traveling at some 140 km/h (87 mph).
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He had to be airlifted off the slopes to hospital where he was put in a medically induced coma for three weeks and initially did not know his name on coming round.
He had to be airlifted off the slopes to hospital where he was put in a medically induced coma for three weeks and initially did not know his name on coming round.
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On his return to action at Adelboden two years later, he sported a T-shirt under his racing gear with the words 'never give up' on it, a fitting testament to his unlikely return to the high-octane world of skiing.
On his return to action at Adelboden two years later, he sported a T-shirt under his racing gear with the words 'never give up' on it, a fitting testament to his unlikely return to the high-octane world of skiing.
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He admitted to nerves returning to the start gate of World Cup skiing but the return was relatively shortlived as Albrecht was eventually forced to retire not from his injuries that day in Kitzbuhel but because of a knee injury sustained in 2012.
He admitted to nerves returning to the start gate of World Cup skiing but the return was relatively shortlived as Albrecht was eventually forced to retire not from his injuries that day in Kitzbuhel but because of a knee injury sustained in 2012.
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