Cracknell accident 'caused brain damage'

[OMEN]

James Cracknell has reportedly suffered brain damage after a bike accident last week.

The Olympian and TV star experienced a head fracture after being knocked off his bike while filming scenes for a Discovery Channel programme in Arizona and was previously thought to be in stable condition.

However, his wife Beverly Turner told The Daily Telegraph that Cracknell, who is receiving treatment in a neuro-trauma ward, is only semi-conscious and will need up to six months to recover from his injuries.

"I'd spent years worrying that James would plunge down a crevasse in some remote wilderness, but it was a road traffic accident in the US that has left him with a fractured skull and damage to his brain," she said.

She added that while the accident caused bleeding and swelling of his brain, doctors still expect him to make almost a full recovery.

"Only those closest to him may be able to tell a subtle difference."

DS