The Truth About The Damage Tiger Woods' Car Crash Caused To His Body
Tiger Woods is recovering after he was involved in a car accident in California on Feb. 23, 2021. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department confirmed in a statement that the incident saw Woods' car roll-over, which left him in need of emergency surgery after suffering an injury to his leg. "On Feb. 23, 2021, at approximately 7:12 AM, LASD responded to a single vehicle roll-over traffic collision on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes," the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said, per People, confirming that "the vehicle sustained major damage."
Woods had to be freed from the wreckage by Los Angeles County firefighters and was then transported by an ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was treated immediately. Woods' representative confirmed the accident in a statement that noted he had "suffered multiple leg injuries."
But how is Woods doing now and how much damage was really caused to his body? Keep reading to find out more.
The true extent of Tiger Woods' 'significant' injuries
According to a statement posted to his official Twitter account on Feb. 23, 2021, Tiger Woods is now "awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room" after he underwent extensive surgery to his lower right leg and ankle. In the same statement, Anish Mahajan — chief medical officer and interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA hospital, where Woods was treated — offered an update on his injuries. Mahajan confirmed the sportsman "suffered significant orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity" that had to be treated through "emergency surgery by orthopaedic trauma specialists."
"Communicated open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia," Mahajan said, adding that Woods had also injured the bones of his foot and ankle that had to be fixed using screws and pins.
In addition, Woods suffered "trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling." Mahajan did not share details about his prognosis or if he would be able to play golf again, though the statement thanked the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Fire Department as well as those who sent well-wishes.
Tiger Woods is 'lucky to be alive'
Tiger Woods is reported to have had a lucky escape following his car accident. Prior to the update on his condition, L.A. County sheriff's Deputy Carlos Gonzalez said that Woods was clearly injured when he arrived at the scene and was struggling to free himself from the vehicle, which he was in alone. He confirmed that Woods had to be carried away from the crash scene on a backboard.
"Mr. Woods was not able to stand under his own power," Gonzalez said, as reported by The Los Angeles Times, while the Los Angeles County sheriff Alex Villanueva added that he believed the sportsman is "lucky to be alive."
The L.A. County Sheriff's Department confirmed during a Feb. 23, 2021 press conference that Woods did not appear to be impaired while driving and Villanueva clarified that a halligan tool and an axe were used to free him from the wreckage, per Variety. He added that the golfer was thought to be traveling in his car at a "greater speed than normal" before the accident.
Tiger Woods is 'awake' and 'recovering'
Just one day after Tiger Woods' frightening accident, the athlete is "awake, responsive, and recovering," according to a statement shared via Twitter on Feb. 24, 2021. As for his condition, Woods "suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center," Anish Mahajan, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, stated in the update.
Going into detail about Woods' injuries and how his medical team came to the golf star's aid, the physician explained he had "open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibular bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into" his leg. Additionally, a "combination of screws and pins" were used to stabilize the bones in his foot and ankle, and his leg muscles "required surgical release" to "relieve pressure due to swelling."
The athlete is "recovering in his hospital room" after undergoing the procedures and healing for the traumatic accident. The statement concluded, adding, "We continue to thank you for your well wishes and privacy for him and his family."
Several Twitter users took to the replies to comment on the severity of his injuries. "Career ending, You don't understand anatomy if you disagree," one person wrote, while another added, "Hoping for the best but tiger will prob never play again."