Martin Gerber hospitalized with a serious neck injury (Photo © khl.ru)

Swiss goalie Martin Gerber, who past summer left the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL to play for Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, was hospitalized after suffering a serious neck injury in a game against Vityaz Chekhov on December 13.

According to Russian site lifesports.ru during the second period a Vityaz forward ran into Gerber. As a result Gerber ended up lying on the ice. After being tested by the team’s doctors Gerber was put on a wheel stretcher and taken off the ice. He was sent to a Podolsk municipal hospital where he was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the third cervical vertebra.

“The injury is very serious, Martin can forget about hockey for the next 6 months,” said one of the hospital’s doctors, Igor Suvorov. “Thank God the spinal cord was not hurt and there is no threat to his life. Gerber will soon be sent to a special clinics in Podolsk to undergo computed tomography to ensure the spinal cord is not hurt.”

Martin Gerber is expected to stay at the hospital for at least 2 months.

Update:

Russian newspaper Sovetskiy Sport talked with Atlant GM, Andrei Verevko:

“Gerber underwent computed tomography. The preliminary diagnosis is a compression fracture of the fourth cervical vertebra. Monday morning Gerber will have an advanced medical examination.”

Update (Monday):

Martin Gerber’s injury not so serious. He is expected to be back in 2-3 weeks. Video finally available