15 June,2015 08:01 AM IST | | AFP
The incident that saw three Austrian synchronised swimmers injured, one seriously, after being hit by a bus on the eve of the opening of the inaugural European Games in Baku has led to new safety measures being implemented, Chief Operating Officer Simon Clegg said yesterday
Baku: The incident that saw three Austrian synchronised swimmers injured, one seriously, after being hit by a bus on the eve of the opening of the inaugural European Games in Baku has led to new safety measures being implemented, Chief Operating Officer Simon Clegg said yesterday.
Two of the three teenagers were flown home to Vienna last Thursday with 15-year-old Vanessa Sahinovic being placed in an artificial coma with hip, thigh and spinal injuries and undergoing surgery that night.
Teammate Luna Pajer was also repatriated from Baku with a broken bone, but the third victim Verena Breit, who sustained bruising on her right leg in the incident, returned to the Athletes Village soon after the accident.
The incident is presently under investigation by the police - the images captured on camera show the bus travelling at speed and taking a corner with the girls and their companions in clear sight and then hitting them with one being dragged for 20 metres under the vehicle.
"Yes there have been changes made (to our transport policy)," said Clegg.
