Germany’s Sledding Coach Loses Leg in Luge Accident

Sepp Lenz, coach of the German luge team, lost his left leg Friday when he was struck by an American sled during a practice session.

Lenz was treated at the track by medics, then flown by helicopter to University Hospital at Bochum, about 62 miles northwest of Winterberg, track spokeswoman Ingeborg Kollbach said. Attempts to reattach the leg, which was severed below the knee, were unsuccessful.

Lenz slipped on the Winterberg luge track and fell before being struck by a sled driven by Bethany Calcaterra-McMahon, 19, of Waterford, Conn., who was practicing, Kollbach said.

Calcaterra-McMahon had no way to avoid Lenz, who had been cleaning snow off the track when she plowed into him.

The accident occurred as athletes were practicing for World Cup races this weekend.

Kollbach said that Calcaterra-McMahon was not hurt, but was in shock.

Lenz, the national trainer since 1966, was European luge champion in 1962.