News / Politics

Kerry to fly home Monday after breaking leg in France

Sunday, 31 May 2015 11:58 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 01 June 2015 2:27 AM ]

US Secretary of State John Kerry (AFP photo)

US Secretary of State John Kerry will fly home for treatment on Monday after breaking his leg in a bicycle crash in France.

Kerry, an enthusiast cyclist, was hospitalized in the Swiss city of Geneva on Sunday after the accident across the border in the French Alps.

The 71-year-old diplomat, who broke his right femur in the accident, was initially expected to return to the United States on Sunday evening.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) rides his bicycle during a break in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 16, 2015. (AFP photo)

State Department spokesman John Kirby said that after consultation, it was decided to keep Kerry in the hospital for observation overnight.

"The secretary had planned on flying back to the US this evening, but after further consultation it was sensible for him to remain in the hospital for observation overnight for purely precautionary measures and fly home tomorrow," Kirby said on Sunday afternoon.

Kerry had to scrap the final parts of a multi-stop diplomatic visit that has already included meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Geneva.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (1st R) talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (1st L) in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2015.

In an earlier statement, Kirby said Secretary Kerry is “stable and never lost consciousness, his injury is not life-threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery.”

"Given the injury is near the site of his prior hip surgery, he will return to Boston today to seek treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital with his doctor who did the prior surgery," he added.

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