German canoe slalom coach dies following car crash in Rio

Germany canoe slalom coach Stefan Henze died this Monday (Aug. 15) in Rio de Janeiro. Henze was admitted to the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital, in the city's south zone, after a car crash last Friday (12). He suffered head trauma.

In a note, German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) mourned the loss of the athlete. "We are endlessly sad on this day," said DOSB President Alfons Hörmann. "Words cannot come close to describing how we in the Olympic team feel after this dreadful incident."

Henze had undergone neurological surgery early on Friday. Henze and Christian Käding, also a member of the slalom canoe team, were traveling in a taxi when the car crashed into another vehicle on Americas Avenue. Käding was taken to hospital and was released after hospital treatment.

The confederation further reported in the note that they will not disclose further details on Henze's death at the athlete's family's request. "We know that Stefans's own Olympic thought live on in many people," Henze's family said in a statement.

"Today the sport which the whole team came to Rio for recedes into the background. Our thoughts are with Stefan's loved ones, who had the opportunity to say goodbye here," said Germany team leader Michael Vesper.

The German Olympic team has scheduled a memorial in Henze's tribute at the Olympic Village and will request to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the German flags flown at half-mast in all Rio 2016 competition venues.

Sought by the reporters, the Municipal Department for Health and Miguel Couto Hospital did not comment on the death of the German athlete.

Fabrício Ferreira contributed to this article.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta