Athletics judge speared by javelin

Brazilian javelin judge Lia Marie Lourenco is helped by colleagues and medics after a javelin pierced her foot. Picture / Reuters

SAO PAULO - An athletics judge was speared in the foot by a wayward javelin while watching over warm-ups for the national javelin championships in Sao Paulo.

The javelin pierced Lia Marie Lourenco's entire foot, before she fell screaming to the ground.

Medics desperately tried to calm her while an ambulance was called to take her to hospital after the incident on Sunday. The tip of the javelin was successfully removed by surgery.

Lourenco is a well-experienced javelin judge, with more than 10 years of experience, and had entered the warm-up field to recover another fallen javelin.

- REUTERS