Austrian Nordic combined skier Rainer dies after paragliding fall

Austrian Nordic combined skier Rainer dies after paragliding fall THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VIENNA, Austria - Austrian Nordic combined skier Alfred Rainer died early Saturday from the severe head injuries he suffered from a paragliding accident last week, the Austrian Ski Federation said. He was 20. Rainer was being kept in an artificial coma at a hospital in Innsbruck after crashing from 20 metres above ground and suffering a craniocerebral injury, a bruised lung and several broken leg bones. The accident occurred on Aug. 7 in his hometown of Maria Alm in the province of Salzburg, the federation said. Rainer won two bronze medals and a gold medal in the team event at last year's junior world championships in Tarvisio, Italy, and competed on the World Cup circuit... [read full story]