German Olympic coach dies following car accident in Rio

ByRob Harris AP logo

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

In this Aug. 20, 2004 photo, Germany's Stefan Henze bites his silver medals during a medal ceremony for the C2 men's canoe event.
AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis-AP

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The German Olympic team says canoe slalom coach Stefan Henze has died from injuries sustained in a car crash last week.

The German team says Henze, who was 35 and won a silver medal in canoe slalom at the 2004 Athens Games, died surrounded by his family.

Henze, a canoe slalom silver medalist at the 2004 Games, underwent emergency surgery in a Rio de Janeiro hospital. He and a team official were heading to the athletes village when their taxi was in a wreck.

Germany will commemorate Henze's death in the Olympic Village on Tuesday, and the country's flag will be flown at half-staff at all Olympic sites in Rio de Janeiro.

IOC President Thomas Bach says the Olympic body "is mourning the loss of a true Olympian. Our sympathy is with the family of Stefan Henze, his friends and all of the German Olympic team."

To get alerts for breaking news, download the abc13 news app for iPhone or Android. You can also get breaking news alerts sent to you by email.