French downhiller Cyprien Sarrazin, seriously injured in the head after a fall during training on December 27 in Bormio (Italy), has left the intensive care unit and could be repatriated to Lyon this Friday, the French ski federation announced on Thursday (FFS).
“The recovery phase carried out on Saturday December 28 went well and his state of health is stable. (Cyprien Sarrazin) left the intensive care unit and was hospitalized in a care unit »explained Stéphane Bulle, the doctor of the French alpine ski team, quoted in the FFS press release.
“The MRI carried out on December 31 suggests repatriation to France on Friday January 3 and hospitalization in the neurosurgery department of the Médipole de Lyon”he added.
Sarrazin, 30, underwent surgery to resolve an intracranial hematoma last Friday after suffering a heavy fall during training on the track for the Alpine Skiing World Cup stage in Bormio.
The Haut-Alpin, world No.2 in downhill last winter, has since been hospitalized in Sondalo (north).
In its previous update on Sarrazin’s health, published last Saturday, the FFS announced that he had “awakened” and was ” aware “ after his operation.
In its press release published Thursday, the FFS indicates that “the duration of his unavailability (is) currently undetermined: “A long period of recovery and then rehabilitation begins”she warned.
The press release ends on a positive note: “The rest of the medical assessment (painful foot and knee) is very reassuring and despite the violence of the shock, no other lesions were noted”.
During the second training session before the downhill and super-G in Bormio on December 27, Sarrazin was unbalanced by a movement in the terrain and literally flew away before hitting the snow violently and being stopped by the safety nets after a long slide.
He was evacuated by helicopter after a long intervention by the emergency services.
Several other skiers were injured during this stage in Bormio, on the Stelvio, one of the most feared slopes of the circuit which will host the men’s alpine skiing events of the 2026 Olympics, including the preparation and lack of homogeneity of its snow coverage was once again criticized this year.
