Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton was flown to the hospital after fracturing his neck in a training accident at the Winter Olympics. The 35-year-old is participating in his fourth Games in Italy this year and was preparing for the men’s snowboard cross event in Livigno earlier this week when he took a serious fall.

While he did manage to walk away from the stumble and looked ready to compete, his condition has worsened since receiving medical attention. A CT scan confirmed that Bolton had sustained two neck fractures and led to him being airlifted from the team’s mountain base to a hospital in Milan for further treatment. This intense injury has crushed his Olympic hopes, after he entered the tournament fresh from winning silver in the mixed snowboard team cross event at last year’s World Championships in Switzerland.

Despite the disappointment, Bolton is said to be in high spirits and comforted by his wife in hospital. In an update, Australia’s team chef de mission, Alisa Camplin, said: “Cam wanted to ensure his team-mates understood what was happening and that he was fine and being well cared for.

“He appreciates how seriously we’re taking the support process around him and communication has been excellent. I’m proud of the level of care.”

Australia have managed to draft in a replacement for Bolton in the men’s snowboard cross team ahead of Thursday’s qualifying, with 21-year-old James Johnston stepping in to make his Olympic debut. Bolton isn’t the only member of his team to be sidelined due to injury, as halfpipe star Misaki Vaughan has dropped out following a head injury.

After sustaining a blow to the head during training, the 20-year-old displayed symptoms of a head injury and was required to follow concussion protocols. Vaughan subsequently failed the necessary tests and was consequently banned from snowboarding for seven days.

This effectively ruled her out of the event on Wednesday morning. This follows the shocking incident involving skiing icon Lindsey Vonn, who was airlifted from the slopes after a terrifying crash just 13 seconds into her run in the women’s downhill skiing final on Sunday.

Vonn, who had previously torn her ACL in a crash at the World Cup in Switzerland, was resolute in her decision to compete in her fifth and final Games but suffered a dramatic exit when she clipped a slalom gate and endured a heavy fall.

Following her urgent hospitalisation, it was confirmed that the American athlete had sustained a “complex tibia fracture” that required “multiple surgeries.”

Vonn expressed “no regrets” in a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram. She said: “Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would.

“It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy tale, it was just life. Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.

“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets.”