German canoe slalom coach suffers severe head injuries

German canoe slalom coach Stefan Henze has suffered life-threatening head injuries in a traffic accident in Rio, the country's Olympic committee has announced.

Henze, 35, and sports scientist Christian Kading were involved in an accident in the early hours of Friday morning. Kading was discharged from hospital after avoiding serious injuries.

The German Olympic Committee (DOSB) confirmed Henze had been transferred to a specialist neurosurgical department for emergency surgery.

"His head injuries are life-threatening, according to the doctors," read a DOSB statement.

"The team led by the senior Olympic physician Prof. Dr. Bernd Wolfarth is in constant contact with the attending physicians.

"Christian Kading was slightly injured in the accident and has been discharged from the hospital. He is doing well under the circumstances."

Henze earned a silver medal with Marcus Becker in the C-2 event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.