Horror injury overshadows gymnastics silver at Commonwealth Games
England's Gabriel Langton suffered a serious fall from the horizontal bar, overshadowing his team's silver medal. He was taken to hospital and is conscious, officials said.
A sickening injury to England's Gabriel Langton overshadowed his team's silver medal in the men's team gymnastics final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 19-year-old from the City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club missed his catch on the horizontal bar three metres high, falling head first to the floor in the final rotation. He received lengthy medical treatment from up to a dozen staff and was taken off on a stretcher with his head and neck braced, to applause from the crowd.
Langton was conscious and moving his limbs before leaving the arena. Team officials later said he was moving and speaking to doctors. Team England released a statement: "We are grateful to the medical teams who responded immediately. He has been taken to hospital and we will share more information when available."
When competition resumed, England could not close the gap to Canada, who won their first gold in the event in 20 years. Langton, a late call-up replacing injured Max Whitlock, did not join his teammates on the podium.
Teammate Luke Whitehouse, who competed first after the delay and scored 11.700, said: "When something like that happens, you've just got to forget and reset. Gymnastics is such a dangerous sport and things like this remind us."
Canada's Felix Dolci, who helped his team to gold, said: "It's terrible but it shows how difficult gymnastics is. All our thoughts go to Gabriel and the team. England stayed focused, which is not easy."
Hamish Carter of Team Scotland, who narrowly missed bronze, said: "I didn't see it. I'm just happy he's alright. Anything could have happened."
