Van Hooydonck is “in a coma”
Vingegaard helper suffers heart attack while driving
September 12, 2023, 3:29 p.m
A few weeks ago, Nathan Van Hooydonck helped cycling star Jonas Vingegaard to his second Tour victory. Now his team Jumbo Visma is worried about him: The 27-year-old suddenly feels uncomfortable in the car and causes an accident involving several vehicles. He has to be resuscitated on site.
Nathan Van Hooydonck, who helped cycling star Jonas Vingegaard’s second Tour de France victory in July, was seriously injured in a traffic accident in his native Belgium and was taken to hospital. Citing local police, several Belgian media outlets reported that the 27-year-old had to be resuscitated and was then taken to hospital conscious. The accident occurred in Kalmthout, north of Antwerp.
Van Hooydonck’s team Jumbo-Visma confirmed the accident. The team wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he felt uncomfortable behind the wheel, which led to his involvement in the traffic accident. “He was immediately taken to a hospital where he is receiving good medical care. We cannot confirm rumors that he is in critical condition,” the team said. Van Hooydonck will undergo further medical examinations.
The sporting director Grischa Niermann, who is currently at the Vuelta in Spain, had previously commented. “We know that he had an accident and is in the hospital. I think he is in an induced coma,” said the former German professional cyclist. The team members at the Tour of Spain reacted quite violently to the news and it was not easy to race under these circumstances.
Photos in the online edition of the newspaper “Het Laatste Nieuws” show several damaged cars at a street intersection. “The driver was resuscitated on site and taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition. His pregnant wife, who was sitting next to him, was uninjured but was also taken to hospital,” said Patrick De Smedt, spokesman for the border police.
According to media reports, Van Hooydonck is said to have caused the accident with at least five cars. According to the police, he suddenly felt unwell at the wheel and crossed a red light. He drove into several vehicles waiting on the other side of the intersection. Three people in the other cars, including a child, suffered minor injuries.