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Update – Para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson
Messages of support and encouragement have been flowing in from around the world for injured Australian para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson. 14 Feb 2014
Matthew Robinson competes in the IPCAS Snowboard World Cup in Copper Mountain, Colorado in the USA.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure Matthew and everyone around him receives the support they need."
The 29-year-old was airlifted to the Parc Tauli Sabadell Hospital in Barcelona after he was involved in a serious race crash at the IPC World Cup finals in La Molina, Spain, on Wednesday (12 February).
Matthew underwent surgery on Thursday (13 February) to treat his neck injuries. Currently in intensive care, he is now awake and responsive however his condition has not changed significantly in the past 24 hours.
His parents and fiancee are now on their way to Barcelona and will arrive at the hospital on Friday afternoon.
They will be met by members of the Australian Paralympic Team medical staff, as well as Dr. David Hughes, Chief Medical Officer from the Australian Institute of Sport, who departed Canberra on Thursday to help co-ordinate the Australian medical response.
Australian Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Jason Hellwig said: “Our thoughts and best wishes are with Matthew, his family and his teammates as he continues to fight hard in hospital.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure Matthew and everyone around him receives the support they need.
“The Australian Paralympic Committee continues to work very closely with medical staff on the ground in Barcelona, as well as the Australian Embassy in Spain, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the AIS to ensure our response is well coordinated and leaves nothing to chance.”
Hellwig is leading an Incident Management Team (IMT) which was formed shortly after the accident. The role of the IMT, which includes five APC staff and two from the AIS, has been to effectively connect all the individuals and organisations involved in Matthew’s treatment and to provide a central channel for communication.
“We have received excellent support from our partners to this point, and we have also received a huge amount of well wishes from around Australia and overseas for Matt and his family.”
Matthew will continue to be closely monitored by hospital staff in coordination with Dr. Hughes.
The APC is encouraging people to send their best wishes to Matthew via: www.facebook.com/AUSParalympics.
