Olympic 400m runner Tim Benjamin is in hospital after complications from a routine medical injection to try and solve a bad back and groin pain. The 22-year-old was rushed to hospital at the weekend suffering from headaches and dizziness.
At one point it was even feared the Welshman had suffered a stroke, but the result is much less worrying.
Benjamin sustained a dural leak from his spine following an injection by a UK Athletics doctor.
He is staying in hospital for further tests on Tuesday, but will hope there is no long-term impact on his athletic future.
A dural leak occurs when a watertight sack of tissue covering the spinal cord and the spinal nerves, called the dura mater, is torn.
Damage to the dura mater can occur during surgery or other medical procedure and is not uncommon.
A spinal headache can result from the spinal fluid leak and it can increase the risk of infection of the spinal fluid (spinal meningitis).
Benjamin was part of the Great Britain relay team that finished fifth in Athens at the 2004 Games.
He won gold at the 2004 European Cup, plus a Commonwealth Games silver two years earlier in Manchester as part of the relay team.
Last month Benjamin was forced to end his hopes of competing in the indoor season after a muscle tear to his right knee.
MMIX
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