Tour de France winner Egan Bernal reveals he nearly died after horror crash that left him in intensive care
EGAN BERNAL says he came close to dying or being left paralysed by his horror crash in Colombia.
The 2019 Tour de France winner remains in Intensive care unit awaiting a third bout of surgery after crashing into a bus last Monday.
The Ineos Grenadiers star has had two ‘successful’ ops at the Clinica Universidad de La Sabana.
The 25-year-old Colombian suffered a fractured vertebrae, a fractured right femur, a fractured right patella, chest trauma, a punctured lung and several fractured ribs.
Doctors were first able to medically pin his right leg and stabilise the vertebrae fracture in the two separate surgeries.
Bernal tweeted an image of him doing an OK sign while wearing a neck brace from hospital bed.
He said: “Having had a 95 per cent chance of becoming a paraplegic and nearly losing my life doing what I love to do most, today I want to thank God, the Clinica Universidad, all the specialists for doing the impossible.
“I’m still in the ICU waiting for more surgeries but trusting in God everything will be fine.”
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In a statement, Ineos said: “The Team would like to thank the medical staff at Clinica Universidad de La Sabana and everyone who has sent messages of support to Egan.
“All of our focus is on ensuring Egan is given the best possible care as he starts on his road to recovery.”
Bernal, who won the 2021 Giro d’Italia, has been training in his homeland in South American ahead of the new season.
Earlier this month he signed a new five-year deal to tie with the cycling outfit until 2026.