Czech Republic President Petr Pavel was admitted to the hospital after sustaining injuries while riding a racing motorcycle, according to his office.
On social media platform X, Pavel’s office announced, “The president was injured while riding his motorcycle. The injuries are not serious but will require a short observation in the hospital.”
The office further mentioned that additional information will be provided when available. Police confirmed the accident occurred on a closed course and not on a public road.
The 62-year-old president, in office since March 2023, needs to remain hospitalized for an unspecified period.
“His injuries are not serious, but they will require a short monitoring stay in Prague’s Military University Hospital,” stated Pavel’s office.
Speaking to Czech TV, Pavel’s spokesman, Vit Kolar, mentioned that the president will spend “several days” in the hospital, with negligible impact on his schedule.
“It’s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so we believe it will not have a remarkable impact,” said Kolar. Regarding the president’s fitness for an upcoming trip abroad, he stated, “We will see.”
Czech police ‘not’ investigating president Pavel’s bike crash
Czech police clarified that they are not investigating the incident since it occurred on a closed racing circuit and not on a public road.
The president’s passion for motorbikes is well-known, and he was reportedly riding a BMW R1200 GS. This is not his first trouble with his hobby. Last year, he publicly apologized after being seen riding without a helmet.
Pavel, a former high-ranking NATO general, was elected president of the Czech Republic in March 2023.
A few weeks after assuming office, the president rode a motorcycle to Bavaria in Germany.
“The sun, the wind at your back, and the strengthening of neighborly relations with your Bavarian friends. Why not combine the pleasant with the useful,” Pavel wrote in a post on X.
This is not the first time the Czech leader has been injured in extracurricular activities. In April, he was injured while firing a weapon at a shooting range.
