Georgian luger dies in Vancouver

[rafikz]

A Georgian luger has died from one of the most horrible accidents imaginable just hours before the official start of the Olympics. Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over a wall, and slammed into a metal support beam. Observers said his sled was traveling nearly 90 mph.

The 21-year-old was knocked unconscious, then immediately administered CPR and air-lifted to a Whistler hospital where he died. The 2010 Games would have been Kumaritashvili's first Olympics.

Kumaritashvili's crash occurred at the fastest part of the track, which steeply declines for 152 meters, making it the world's longest luge drop. This is the third crash there in the last two days. Earlier on Friday, defending gold medalist Armin Zoeggeler of Italy lost control but suffered no injuries. On Thursday, female Romanian luger Violeta Stramaturaru crashed and was air-lifted from the track. Her injuries are not considered serious.

 

[azmark]

What a sad story and tough way for athletes to start the games tonight.

 

[hojusimpson]

It's been a horrible year, injury-wise, for Olympic hopefuls and this is the worst news yet.

With so many things going wrong this far for the athletes, we can only wish that the rest of the games are safe for the athletes, organizers and attendees.

 

[gollum83]

Very sad, but three accidents in the past two days? Wow...

 

[Greyfox]

Sad indeed. RIP.

 

[Live2Ride]

This is a huge tragedy. So very sad. Luge is a personal favorite as is B.C. Canada.

 

[Shane]

What a truly awful story. Though no one wanted him to die, perhaps even a little solace can be taken in the fact that he passed doing something he loved. Rest in peace.

 

[RILEY]

Mixed emotions here on opening day.
Apparently the Georgian contingent will march in the opening ceremonies this evening & will compete in a tribute to his honour

 

[gollum83]

Now they're reporting that this is actually the latest of nearly a dozen accidents on this track. I know luge is an inherently dangerous sport, but why didn't all these accidents on a new track raise some red flags? It's a real shame that someone die, but maybe this tragedy will get them to cancel the luge competition before someone else gets seriously injured.

 

[garyg]

Saw the crash on video - the track is lined with posts, it looks like if anyone goes off track it would be more likely to hit one than not. I know nothing about the luge track, what is the purpose of the posts?

 

[Storer50]

Saw the crash on video - the track is lined with posts, it looks like if anyone goes off track it would be more likely to hit one than not. I know nothing about the luge track, what is the purpose of the posts?

they are support posts for something

 

[TheScalpel]

...they should probably cover or pad those exposed steel posts...

 

[Mohillian]

they are support posts for something

for a useless something for sure. what a tragedy. racing is what it is, dangerous (any racing with something besides our own selves). but it seems this could have been avoided. padding? no posts at all? post further away from track? This is already supposed to be the fastest and most dangerous track in the world...duh. Just terrible what happened.

 

[PaulX608]

It was a horrible and tragic accident. I really wish NBC hadn't led off their coverage by actually showing it. Twice.

 

[garyg]

for a useless something for sure. what a tragedy. racing is what it is, dangerous (any racing with something besides our own selves). but it seems this could have been avoided. padding? no posts at all? post further away from track? This is already supposed to be the fastest and most dangerous track in the world...duh. Just terrible what happened.

Yes, sad, though it is a dangerous sport. But I still can't fathom why the designer put that picket fence of sure harm right next to the slide. Those who built, or more precisely, designed that young athlete's death ought to be wondering about it. Can't believe the "posts supporting something" need to be that close and that unpadded.

 

[blackfoot]

Now they're reporting that this is actually the latest of nearly a dozen accidents on this track. I know luge is an inherently dangerous sport, but why didn't all these accidents on a new track raise some red flags? It's a real shame that someone die, but maybe this tragedy will get them to cancel the luge competition before someone else gets seriously injured.

I just saw this, literally 2 minutes ago on the news. They have shut down the track pending investigation. They said this is the fastest track in the world.

 

[gollum83]

I just saw this, literally 2 minutes ago on the news. They have shut down the track pending investigation. They said this is the fastest track in the world.

Thank goodness.

 

[riooso]

Very sad. I know that this a dangerous event but don't you think one could make the coarse so that metal 24" "I" beams are not right next to the track? I really don't understand all that.

Later,
Richard

 

[laconic1]

It was a horrible and tragic accident. I really wish NBC hadn't led off their coverage by actually showing it. Twice.

This. When did it become acceptable to broadcast someones death? As a auto racing fan I have seen my fair share of fatal wrecks through the years. It used to be the tv network would not show a replay of a fatal wreck once they knew the outcome. That changed with Earnhardt's wreck in 2001. But even then you wouldn't see the person dying, just the car crashing with the driver inside. But this was just sickening to watch, seeing him get tossed in the air and that awful thud as he hit the beam and fell limp. I'll never get that image out of my head. What a total lack of decency to show that video.

 

[cfriend]

As others have said, sports in general can be dangerous, racing especially so; but I think the fact that there have been so many accidents on this one course, and in this specific spot, highlights a design flaw that should've been discovered in the analysis/design phase of development.