Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke dies at 29
Canadian freestyle skiing champion Sarah Burke fell into a coma after sustaining an injury during a superpipe training run Tuesday at the Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah, according to reports. (Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo) Reuters

Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke, who was in critical condition on Tuesday night after a serious crash while performing, in Park City, Utah, remains in a coma. She is at the University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City.

The 29-year-old whiplashed over onto her side after landing a trick off the wall at the bottom of the resort's superpipe, a eyewitness told Powder Magazine.

Sarah sustained serious injuries and remains intubated and sedated in critical condition, Safdar Ansari, M.D., a neurointensivist with University of Utah Health Care, said in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon.

The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association's team doctor, Robert Foxford, during a conference call said it was his understanding Burke had been placed in a medically-induced coma.

That would be the standard procedure for someone with a significant brain injury, Foxford said.

Nicole Wool, a publicist for Burke's family, issued a statement: At this time, her family is asking that everyone respect their wishes of making Sarah's health and recovery a priority. The family will send an update once they have all the information. They are with her now.

Sarah is a very strong young woman and she will most certainly fight to recover, said Rory Bushfield, Burke's husband.