American skier TJ Lanning has been flown back to the United States after he fractured a vertebra in his neck and dislocated a knee in a high-speed crash during a World Cup downhill at Lake Louise in Canada.

Lanning was transported from a Calgary hospital in a medically equipped Lear jet to Vail, Colorado, where he will undergo further tests at a local hospital.

“These are serious injuries but the vertebrae fracture is not displaced and does not appear to require surgery at this time,” team medical director Richard Quincy said.

Lanning caught an edge on the fastest section during Saturday’s season-opening downhill and careened into the safety netting.

He was airlifted off the mountain by helicopter and diagnosed with a fractured C5 vertebra and a dislocated patella.

Alpine Skiing World Cup Beaver Creek:

Men’s Downhill Combined — Friday 6pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) & Eurosport Player

Men’s Slalom Combined — Friday 9.15pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) & Eurosport Player

Men’s Downhill — Saturday 6pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) & Eurosport Player

Men’s Giant Slalom 1st Run — Sunday 4.45pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) & Eurosport Player

Men’s Giant Slalom 2nd Run — Sunday 10pm on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) & Eurosport Player

http://twitter.com/TheLanning

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Tags: Broken neck, TJ Lanning