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John Kerry injured in cycling accident in France John Kerry breaks leg in cycling accident and scraps rest of four-stop Europe trip
(35 minutes later)
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, was in a stable condition in a Geneva hospital after being injured in an accident while cycling near Scionzier, France, his spokesman has said. Related: US and Iran resume 'substantive' nuclear talks in Geneva as deadline looms
Kerry, 71, was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Geneva, where he was being examined, spokesman John Kirby said. Secretary of State John Kerry broke his leg in bike crash near Scionzier in France on Sunday, apparently after hitting a curb. He then scrapped the rest of a four-nation trip that included an international conference on combating the Islamic State group.
“Secretary Kerry is stable and likely suffered a leg injury. He did not lose consciousness,” Kirby added. Kerry, who on Saturday was in Geneva for six hours of meetings with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as the sides work to seal a comprehensive accord by 30 June, was in stable condition and in good spirits as he prepared to return to Boston for further treatment with the doctor who previously operated on his hip, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
Kerry suffered the accident near Scionzier, France, 25 miles (40km) south-east of the Swiss border. Paramedics and a physician were on the scene with his motorcade at the time. Kirby said X-rays at a Swiss hospital confirmed that Kerry fractured his right femur.
A paramedic travelling with his motorcade immediately examined the secretary after his bike apparently hit a kerb, causing the fall, Kirby said. “The secretary is stable and never lost consciousness, his injury is not life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery,” Kirby said in a statement.
Kerry was transported to Geneva’s main hospital, HUG, where he was being evaluated. X-rays were being taken of his right leg. Kerry was taken by helicopter to Geneva’s main medical centre, HUG, after apparently hitting a curb with his bike near Scionzier, France, about 40km southeast of the Swiss border.
It was unclear how long he was expected to stay there and the future of Kerry’s current, four-country trip was unclear. Paramedics and a physician were on the scene with Kerry’s motorcade at the time and provided immediate attention. They quickly decided to order the 10-minute-long helicopter transport.
Kerry is an avid cyclist and often takes his own bike on official trips abroad. Kerry’s cycling rides have become a regular occurrence on his trips. He often takes his bike with him on the plane and was riding that bicycle on Sunday.
He was out riding the day after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva to try to overcome obstacles in negotiations on curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme. During discussions in late March and early April between world powers and Iran, he took several bike trips during breaks. Those talks were in Lausanne, Switzerland, and led to a framework agreement.
Kerry regrets not being able to make the rest of his scheduled stops, Kirby said. The top US diplomat had planned to travel later on Sunday to Madrid for meetings with Spain’s king and prime minister, before spending two days in Paris for an international gathering to combat Isis.
He will participate in the Paris conference remotely, Kirby said.
Kerry’s decision to seek treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital was made because the fracture is near the site of his prior hip surgery, Kirby said.