US Secretary of State was cycling about 30 miles from Geneva, which is closely surrounded by France’s territory while he was in the city for negotiations with Iranian diplomats on that country’s nuke programme
Geneva/Washington : US Secretary of State John Kerry, a cycling enthusiast, broke his leg in a bike accident in France on Sunday and will return his home town Boston for further treatment.
“Kerry broke his right femur in a bicycling accident this morning in Scionzier, France. Given the injury is near the site of his prior hip surgery, he will return to Boston today to seek treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital with his doctor who did the prior surgery,” US State Department Spokesperson John 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 adding that Kerry is in good spirits and is grateful to the French and Swiss authorities, doctors, and nurses who assisted him after the accident.
Kerry, 71, was flown by a helicopter to the Geneva University Hospital after the accident.
Paramedics and a physician were on the scene with the Kerry’s motorcade at the time of the accident.
Kerry had travelled to Geneva for negotiations with Iranian diplomats on that country’s nuclear programme. He was cycling about 30 miles from the city, which is closely surrounded by France’s territory.
He was due in Madrid tomorrow for the signing of a defence deal. But Kerry had to cancel his meetings with his Spanish counterpart. He is also not attending the counter-ISIL coalition ministerial meeting on Tuesday in Paris in person.
“The Secretary plans to participate in the counter-ISIL coalition meeting remotely,” Kirby said. Kerry is known for his love of cycling and often takes his bike with him when he travels.
Shreerupa Mitra-Jha and Lalit K Jha
