Egan Bernal has been discharged from hospital just two weeks after suffering a horrific injury in training which left him in need of spinal surgery.
The two-time Grand Tour winner crashed into the back of a parked bus close to his home in the Colombian capital Bogota.
Bernal was left fighting for his life following a broken leg and kneecap, a collapsed lung and extensive damage to his back.
The 2019 Tour de France winner and reigning Giro d’Italia winner left intensive care on the weekend and he has now been discharged by the Clinica Universidad de La Sabona in Bogota to continue his rehabilitation outside of hospital.
“At this time, the patient is in the third phase of the trauma, ready to start his rehabilitation process,” read a statement from the hospital. “He has no complications and all his injuries are stable and in the process of recovery.
“Due to the above, we are pleased to report that today the patient has been discharged to continue his rehabilitation process on an outpatient basis with our institution, the premier rehabilitation clinic in Colombia.
“Today we give more meaning and strength to the words that we carry in our institution as a mission. With pride and hope we begin a new stage together with our athlete.”
Bernal’s British-based team Ineos Grenadiers - who revealed the Colombian was conscious when he was transferred to hospital after his crash - also released a short statement: “Egan will now return home to begin his long rehabilitation journey - and we’ll be supporting him every step of the way.”
It was reported that the 25-year-old broke 20 bones, including two vertebrae, a femur and 11 ribs, and had two spinal operations. Bernal later revealed on Instagram that he had almost died and had a "95 per cent" chance of becoming paraplegic prior to surgery.
His post said: “Having had a 95 per cent chance of becoming a paraplegic and nearly losing my life doing what I love to do most, today I want to thank God, @clinicaunisabana, to all its specialists for doing the impossible, to my family, @mafemotas, friends and all of you for your wishes.
“I’m still in the ICU waiting for more surgeries but trusting in God everything will be fine.”
