France's world super-G skiing champion Regine Cavagnoud died today from injuries sustained in a high-speed collision during training in Austria two days ago.
"Cavagnoud died this morning from her severe injuries. Decisive was the severe damage to the brain," doctors said in a statement from the Innsbruck hospital where the 31-year-old underwent emergency surgery on Monday.
Cavaganoud suffered severe brain damage and internal injuries after ramming into a trainer at 62 miles per hour on the Pitz Valley glacier in Tyrol.
Her death is the first of a top flight skier during competition or training since Austria's Ulrike Maier broke her neck after crashing in a World Cup downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany in 1994.
Cavagnoud, who had been too weak to undergo any more surgery on Tuesday, needed resuscitation on the glacier after suffering temporary heart failure.
Cavagnoud had started the season in fine style when she placed a surprise third in the season-opening giant slalom at Soelden, just two days before her fatal crash.
The accident in the neighbouring Pitz Valley happened when she collided head on with German youth trainer Markus Anwander as he crossed her track down the glacier.
Anwander's situation remained critical, although it has stabilised.