Sailing: Danish sailor undergoes surgery after slicing leg during New Zealand Sailing Regatta

Danish sailor CP Lubeck needed surgery to repair an artery sliced by the foil of his boat. Image from Cenholt/Lübeck Sailing / Facebook

Danish sailor CP Lubeck has revealed the extent of the injuries he sustained during the New Zealand Sailing Regatta last weekend.

Lubeck and teammate Lin Cenholt, who were ranking fifth in the world, were competing in the Nacra 17 class at the event, but had their campaign cut short on Sunday when Lubeck's trapeze hook broke and he fell into the water.

His leg hit the rudder foil and was sliced open, cutting one of his arteries. He underwent surgery on Sunday night to repair to injury.

He spent two nights in hospital, before leaving on Tuesday with his leg heavily bandaged - crutches in hand.

Posting on their team Facebook page, Lubeck revealed the gash needed 30 stitches, and despite cutting an artery, it could have been much worse.

"It seems like no damage on the ligaments, bones and nervous system," he said. "I got a cut in one of the big arteries, so it was bleeding a lot when I was in the water and it looked scary.

"The doctors have just closed the artery, so my leg will have to survive without that one - but it shouldn't be a problem. The reason why the bandage is so big is, that my ankle needs to be in the same position, so I can't stretch the wound."

Status after CPs accident and surgery Thanks a lot everybody for the messages and wishes - really appreciated. A big...

Posted by Cenholt/Lübeck Sailing on Sunday, 4 February 2018

Lubeck was set to see doctors again in under a week to have his bandages changed and to check it isn't becoming infected. He expected to have his stitches out in three weeks' time, and would then begin recovery training.

"It is hard to know when I will be back sailing but hopefully I can jump on the boat in two months' time," he said.

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