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Local Heroes Detail High-Stakes Rescue of Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn
The high-altitude drama surrounding Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn’s recent crash at the Winter Games is now coming into sharper focus, with the pilot who airlifted her to safety offering a firsthand account of the critical rescue mission. Vonn, a seasoned athlete, sustained a broken leg during the women’s downhill alpine skiing final on Sunday, an incident that brought the competition to a halt for approximately 20 minutes as medical personnel attended to her.
Roberto Cit, the pilot commanding the rescue helicopter, spoke to NBC, describing the operation as a success, stating, “I believe the result was good.” He highlighted the optimal weather conditions and praised the seamless collaboration among mountain rescue teams, the onboard medical staff, and the winch technician during the complex maneuvers on the slope.
“Today’s conditions were optimal and we worked very well together as a team,” Cit added. “We stayed composed and carried out the operation as well as possible.”
Annalisa Raffin, the winch technician involved in the rescue, recounted the immediate response of the team as they witnessed Vonn’s distressing crash. “As soon as we were activated, we left immediately, the pilot, myself, the technician and the doctor on board, and headed to the target area.” The delicate nature of the mission required the helicopter to maintain a significant altitude during an extended winching operation, making clear communication among the crew paramount.
Raffin explained the intricate coordination required: “It’s all about coordinating movements and the helicopter’s positioning to reach the target in the most accurate way possible.” She also noted that rescue teams are not privy to the patient’s specific medical situation prior to the mission. “Once we reached the athlete, she was secured to the winch, recovered and transported back to the medical base.”
Vonn, who underwent surgery later that day, is reportedly alert and communicating with doctors, according to her sister. This latest incident follows another crash just weeks prior, where she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). While Vonn has yet to make a public statement regarding her current condition or future in skiing, her resilience in returning to the Games so soon after a major injury speaks volumes about her dedication.
The intensity of Vonn’s crash was palpable, even for those observing from afar. BBC commentator Chemmy Alcott became visibly emotional during the live broadcast, struggling to articulate the scene.
“I actually feel guilty that I am this emotional,” Alcott shared. “When we thought about the end of this story, we never thought and never believed that it would end in her in a clump at the side of the piece, not moving.”
She further elaborated on the challenging course conditions, noting, “She doesn’t have a left knee, she drops her hip back and this is an absolute nightmare. It is an absolute nightmare.
The whole world is watching and we wanted to see her come through the finish smiling.”