Viktor Röthlin out of London Marathon with a pulmonary embolism

March 17, 2009

After Viktor Röthlin aborted his altitude training camp in Kenya and went back to Switzerland, he now has the bitter diagnosis: Pulmonary embolism in the right pulmonary lobe. Furthermore the doctors diagnosed a pneumonia and an edema in the chest region. It is suspected that the reason was a thrombosis in the right pelvis vein that Röthlin might have suffered during his return flight from Ras Al Khaima (where he dropped out of a halfmarathon after stomach problems) to Kenya. During the 5-hours flight he was “sandwiched” in four-man row.

For at least 4 weeks the World Championships Bronce medalist is not allowed to do any activity. For the next half year Röthlin’s blood will be diluted and the pneumonia will be treated with antibiotica. If the recovery goes well, the Swissman can imagine to participate in a autumn marathon.