Caroline Andersson badly injured after cycling WC crash

One collarbone broke into four pieces, a fracture and bleeding in the pelvis, two fractures in the face, a torn back and an incredibly severe concussion.

That's the result after Caroline Andersson's violent crash in the cycling WC last Saturday.

- Because of the trauma, the concussion, the shock and the medication, she was basically uncontactable for the first day. There were only a few isolated moments that could shake her to life. The first night you didn't know what you were facing, says father Michael "Roddarn" Andersson, former star cyclist, who followed the race on site in Canada.

Four minor bleeds in the brain

- The most serious of all is the head. There she has had tremendous luck in bad luck.

In the first examinations of the brain, no signs of bleeding were seen. But on Wednesday, an MRI examination was carried out and the doctors found that Andersson had suffered four minor bleeds. In time, however, these will heal on their own.

Caroline Andersson has, after the first day, where she was operated on for the extensive damage to her collarbone, gradually got better and better every day.

- She can be awake for an hour or so. Yesterday it was a physio who got her out of bed and she had to walk a bit in the corridor. Movements work and she was able to walk, but very wobbly, says father Michael.

"Long way to go"

The situation remains serious and uncertain. Caroline sleeps soundly most of the day because of the very severe concussion, says Michael.

- We can only follow the recovery step by step. The worst fears can be ticked off, but after such a huge bang, there are still many fears left. There is still a long way to go.

The uncertainty is above all about the effects of the extensive concussion. A clear goal going forward is to try to get Caroline home to Sweden with a medical transport.

- When that happens, we don't know. There, the doctors in Canada first need to discharge her in such a way that she is fit to travel home, concludes Michael Andersson.

Within a couple of days, Caroline Andersson will be discharged and travel home to Sweden for continued treatment.