Alpine Skiing - Austrian Lanzinger to lose leg, says federation

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian skier Matthias Lanzinger will have his left leg amputated after breaking it during a World Cup race in Norway on Sunday, the Austrian ski federation said on Tuesday.

"As a result of irreparable tissue damage an amputation to avoid lasting serious damage is unavoidable," the federation said in a statement.

It said the operation would take place in the next few hours in Oslo.

Lanzinger crashed spectacularly out of his run in the latter stages of the super-G race on the Olympiabakken course and finished in the safety net. He was carried down on a sledge by officials.