Australian Formula One World Championship driver Mark Webber has been hospitalised in a critical condition after being struck by a vehicle while cycling. The Red Bull Racing driver was taking part in the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge on Saturday when he was hit by a Nissan X-Trail near the convict town of Port Arthur shortly before 1 PM AESDT.
Webber was airlifted to Royal Hobart Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, according to local authorities.
"He was attended at the scene by paramedics attached to the event before being airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital," said Police Sergeant Jon Ford.
The Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge is a multi-discipline charity sporting event founded by the driver shortly after he joined Formula 1. The event features mountain biking, kayaking and trekking legs over several days, with proceeds going to the driver's foundation which helps organisations like the Leukaemia Foundation.
The four wheel drive's driver is believed to have been unharmed in the accident.
Included in this year's field at the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge was Paralympian Michael Milton. Milton is a multiple gold medal winner at the winter Olympic Games who contested his first summer Olympic Games in Beijing this past August, where he contested both track and road cycling events.
The challenge is due to finish on Sunday in Tasmania's capital, Hobart.
