Cape Town - Nearly two weeks after being admitted to Paarl Medi-Clinic, Italian triathlete Edith Niederfriniger, the second cyclist who was hit during the horror Franschhoek bus crash which claimed four lives including that of her training partner, has been discharged.
Niederfriniger, 44, underwent treatment at the clinic for the past 13 days after sustaining various fractures, including of her tibia, fibula, collarbone and rib.
On Friday, clinic spokeswoman Jacorie Visage confirmed the triathlete was “ready to go home”.
Last Friday, Niederfriniger’s training partner, Linda Scattolin, 39, died in Groote Schuur Hospital from her injuries.
The pair had been cycling on the mountain pass on March 7, when they were involved in the crash with a bus transporting a Franschhoek Rugby Club U20 team and supporters.
The vehicle overturned after the brakes apparently failed.
The duo had been training for the Ironman African Championship in Port Elizabeth this month.
Niederfriniger will fly back home to Marano, Italy, tomorrow to join her family and continue her recovery.
Speaking on her behalf, attorney Gavin Roberts said that despite the initial success of the triathlete’s leg surgery, her training would only resume once she’d made a full recovery.
Niederfriniger, a two-time Ironman winner, took up coaching after retiring from professional athletics in 2009.
He said Scattolin’s death had left Niederfriniger “severely traumatised” as the two had not only been training partners, but “best friends”.
Scattolin was cremated in a private ceremony in Cape Town on Thursday. Her ashes will be sent to Italy today to her parents.
The exact cause of the bus crash has yet to be determined.
Weekend Argus