Angela Merkel injures pelvis, cancels meets
7 Jan 2014 7:34 AM IST
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has fractured her pelvis in a cross-country skiing accident and is walking with the help of crutches, forcing her to call off some foreign visits and official appointments, her spokesman said on Monday. Merkel fell while skiing over the Christmas vacation. What she first thought was heavy bruising turned out to be a partial fracture, meaning she must take it easy for three weeks and work from home where possible, said her spokesman Steffen Seibert.
The news comes a week after Germany was shocked by the far more serious skiing accident of former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, who is in critical condition in a French hospital.
‘The chancellor is of course able to work and is in full communication,’ said Seibert.
He added that Merkel’s accident occurred ‘at low speed’ but he declined to give further details.
The 59-year-old chancellor, a keen hiker who has said she prefers cross-country to downhill skiing, has postponed a visit to Warsaw scheduled for Wednesday.
The news comes a week after Germany was shocked by the far more serious skiing accident of former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, who is in critical condition in a French hospital.
‘The chancellor is of course able to work and is in full communication,’ said Seibert.
He added that Merkel’s accident occurred ‘at low speed’ but he declined to give further details.
The 59-year-old chancellor, a keen hiker who has said she prefers cross-country to downhill skiing, has postponed a visit to Warsaw scheduled for Wednesday.
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