Belgian triathlete Erwin Vanderplanke was the victim of a traffic accident while cycling in Carthaxo and sustained multiple fractures to his face and arms, vice president of Torres Novas Swimming Club said Tuesday.
Erwin Vanderplanke, 28, who has represented the Torres Novas Swimming Club for two seasons, finished seventh at the World Duathlon Championships in Ibiza, Spain on Saturday, but was the victim of an accident the next day, Sunday.
“He arrived on Sunday and was cycling in the Carthaxo area at the end of the day, near Pontevel, when at the intersection the car that had stopped at the bus stop did not see him and moved forward to change direction with the athlete. not looking. a collision was avoided,” Paulo Catarino Vieira told Lusa.
According to the vice president, the accident occurred in the descent zone, and now the triathlete is awaiting surgery at the San José Hospital in Lisbon.
“He is stable, but received multiple fractures of the face and upper limbs. He was first taken to a hospital in Santarém and then transferred to San José, where he is awaiting surgery. He needs some time to recover so that the operation can be performed. .,” he stressed.
Paulo Catarino Vieira said the driver of the car immediately took the blame for the accident, saying he did not see the athlete.
“This is the third such accident that happens to our athletes in two months, but this is the most serious. This situation is very worrying,” he said.
The vice-president said that Erwin Vanderplanke has been living in Portugal for several years and spent two seasons at the club, and also participates in the qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with the Belgian team.