Bobsled Narrowly Misses Seriously Injuring a Worker Mid-Race, Man Leaps Off Track Just in Time
A track worker is incredibly lucky to have escaped injury after he nearly got run over by a bobsled mid-race this weekend.
The terrifying incident, which was captured on video by CBC Sports, occurred on Saturday during a World Cup bobsleigh event in Lake Placid, New York. What could’ve been a serious or fatal injury was prevented by the worker’s quick reaction in mere seconds.
During Monaco’s four-man bobsleigh race, led by Olympic athlete Rudy Rinaldi, the sled flew around the curves of the track before the speed and momentum caused it to flip onto its side.
As the bobsled continued to fly down the track sideways while the team did their best to protect themselves, it eventually zipped around a corner and flipped upright, where it charged down the rest of the icy path as normal.
That is until things once again took a turn for the worst as the bobsled came barrelling towards a worker standing on the track. The man had entered the track to help the athletes, who he likely believed were still traveling sideways, and was nearly run over.
In CBC Sports’ video, a bystander can be heard yelling, “Get out of the way! Get out of the track!” to the man, before he leaped into the air and threw himself over the track’s railing and out of harm’s way.
The commentators were also taken aback at the exciting race and what could’ve been a fatal collision.
“He thought they were upside down,” one announcer said. “Wow, that was close!”
The bobsled continued on its way and finished the race, with Monaco tying for last place with Switzerland, according to results from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).
Canada, meanwhile, finished in first place and was won by pilot Justin Kripps with brakemen Ryan Sommer, Cam Stones, and Benjamin Coakwell. Latvia placed second, while Russia finished for third.
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Following the race, Monaco’s team, including Steven Borges Mendonaca, Thibault Demarthon, and Boris Vain all appeared to be visibly shaken up following the scary incident.
In one shot, Demarthon was captured sitting on the snowy racetrack’s edge with his head down.
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Another shot featured the bobsleigh team together appearing to be upset by their loss. Rinaldi’s hands were even covering his face as they prepared to exit the sled.
This isn’t the first time that a bobsleigh race has come close to — or in complete — contact with a racetrack employee.
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While this incident luckily ended with no injuries, another worker wasn’t so lucky in the past.
During the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, a worker was hit by a bobsled, according to CBC Sports. The man suffered two broken legs.
