Golf legend Tiger Woods is “awake, responsive and recovering” in hospital after requiring several hours of surgery on his right leg, according to a statement released on his Twitter account Tuesday night.
An SUV Woods was driving crossed a median, hit a tree and ended up on its side in a single-vehicle crash just outside Los Angeles Tuesday morning. According to officials on the scene, Woods was conscious but unable to walk after the crash severely injured both his legs.
He was taken by ambulance to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the closest trauma centre to the crash site, which was on a winding stretch of road in an L.A. suburb known for fatal accidents.
“Mr. Woods suffered significant Orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopaedic trauma specialists,” Dr. Anish Mahajan, CMO and interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said in a statement.
“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portion of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins.
“Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Gonzalez said Woods was “very fortunate” to be alive after the accident, but the 45-year-old faces a long road to recovery.
