Cyprien Sarrazin underwent head surgery during the night. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

After head surgery: Sarrazin awakens from coma

Cyprien Sarrazin's fall during training in Bormio has deeply shocked the skiing world. The French Ski Federation has now given an update.

28 December 2024

From: det

These images took the ski aces and fans’ breath away. Cyprien Sarrazin is brutally flown through the air in the final training session in Bormio on Friday and hit the slope hard. The reigning Kitzbühel winner had to be taken to hospital by helicopter, where doctors diagnosed a hemorrhage between two meninges.

An injury that can sometimes be life-threatening. Sarrazin underwent head surgery during the night, and on Saturday morning the French Ski Federation gave a first update. "The head surgery went well," wrote the FFS. Despite this, Sarrazin remained in an artificial coma. A number of brain scans were carried out during the course of the day.

Cyprien Sarrazin was in an artificial coma. © AFP / JASON CONNOLLY

The all-clear was finally given in the late afternoon. "After his operation on Friday evening in the Sondalo hospital near Bormio, he is awake and conscious," the association wrote on social media. "His condition is stable." According to Stéphane Bulle, doctor of the French alpine ski team, Sarrazin will remain under observation for an indefinite period of time.

Heavy criticism in the paddock

After Sarrazin's fall, the organizers in Bormio were heavily criticized. "The slope is really bad," ranted Frenchman Nils Allegre. "They don't know how to prepare a slope. That's disrespectful." In addition to Sarrazin, Italian Pietro Zazzi was also seriously injured during training on Friday. He broke his tibia and fibula in a fall. The downhill race on the notorious Stelvio slope will start on Saturday at 11.30 a.m.