Jakob Mandlbauer, the driver of Austria's bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympics, has been taken away on a stretcher after a terrifying crash in the four-man final.

Following the incident, there were audible gasps from those in attendance as medics quickly rushed to the scene. The crash occurred in heat two of the final, when the Austrian team attempted to take a left turn before the sleigh flew off the side.

Mandlbauer's three teammates were all able to escape out and head off the track but he remained and received treatment, which caused a significant delay, before being taken away on a stretcher.

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The exact condition of the 27-year-old is unknown, with BBC presenters confirming they will give an update once it is known.

Before the action got back underway, officials were able to repair the part of the track seemingly damaged by the crash.

This is not the first time the Austrian team have crashed out, with a similar incident taking place right near the beginning of the games in unofficial training.

Another crash followed around an hour later, as the French crew lost control during their run. However, all members of the team were quick to emerge after hurtling down the track on the sled's side, seemingly unharmed.

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Team GB, meanwhile, got off to a flying start in their heat as they finished third behind a Germany one-two. Elsewhere in the standings, Switzerland 2 (54.49), Germany 3 (54.51), Switzerland 1 (54.53), and Italy 1 (54.55) all finished below them before the next heat started.

There have been numerous big crashes at Milano-Cortina over the last few weeks with the most notable one undoubtedly being Lindsey Vonn's in the women's downhill skiing final.

The American was airlifted off the course with a broken leg and has since confirmed she has been forced to have multiple surgeries.

In her latest Instagram update, she said: "Made it through surgery. It took a bit more than 6 hours to complete. As you can see, it required a lot of plates and screws to put back together.

"With the extent of the trauma, I've been struggling a bit post op and have not yet been able to be discharged from the hospital just yet," Vonn added. "Almost there. Baby steps."

On Friday, gold medal favourite in the men's freeski halfpipe Finley Melville Ives looked to suffer a bad injury after coming down hard following an impressive trick

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However, it was confirmed that he was conscious and talking as he was stretchered away from the course. Fellow New Zealander Ben Harrington paid tribute to him in his run moments after as he went on to qualify for the final.

GB's Gus Kenworthy was also part of the 12 athletes in that final but he ended up finishing sixth with American Alex Ferreira taking gold.