The 22-year-old up-and-comer suffered a displaced fracture of the spine between vertebras six and seven, high in the back, said Swiss team spokesman Marc Waelti. He said the official diagnosis showed the spinal cord was also damaged, resulting in paralysis of his lower body.
Beltrametti was in intensive care but in stable condition. He also suffered hemorrhaging in his lungs but his life is not in danger, Waelti said.
Beltrametti, who started in 14th position on Saturday, gained a 0.34-second lead over the current leader at the time, Kurt Sulzenbacher of Italy.
Swiss skier Silvano Beltrametti, seen in this Sept. 3, 2001 file photo, is in a Grenoble, France, hospital after a high speed crash during the World Cup Downhill event in Val d'Isere on Saturday. (CP PHOTO)
He was barrelling down the course when he lost control and crashed into the safety netting at 120 km/h, tearing through it and landing in the forest behind.
The young Swiss skier was airlifted by helicopter to hospital after spending an hour on the slope being examined by onsite doctors.
Beltrametti, who placed third in Friday's super-G and had shown promise in downhill training earlier in the week, was considered to be a medal contender at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Last year, in his rookie season, the Swiss prodigy finished second in a downhill in Lake Louise and fourth in the downhill at the world championships in St. Anton.
The crash is being investigated, but race organizers said all security measures taken were in accordance with International Ski Federation standards.
