UPDATED 1:14 p.m. ET
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is currently in a Geneva hospital, but is expected to take an air ambulance to Boston for "further treatment," State Department spokesperson John Kirby reportedly said in a statement.
Kerry to take an air ambulance back to the U.S. pic.twitter.com/411PvARzhu— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) May 31, 2015
An update from @statedeptspox on Secretary @JohnKerry's injury: https://t.co/erBJvol9Ss.— Department of State (@StateDept) May 31, 2015
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was helicoptered to a Swiss hospital Sunday after he was involved in a bike crash outside of Geneva, where he had been holding nuclear talks with Iran's foreign minister. Kerry fractured his right femur in the accident, according to the State Department.
Kerry did not lose consciousness, State Department spokesman John Kirby said. The top American diplomat was in stable condition, Kirby said.
He canceled the rest of a four-nation trip and plans to fly back to his hometown of Boston for medical care later on Sunday.
Kerry suffered the accident near Scionzier, France, about 40 kilometers southeast of the Swiss border. A paramedic traveling with his motorcade immediately examined the secretary after his bike apparently hit a curb, causing the fall, Kirby said. X-rays were taken of Kerry's right leg, Kirby said, and they confirmed he fractured his right femur.
Kerry, an avid biker and windsurfer, was biking with his security detail during a brief break in the talks. Other senior U.S. officials, including Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, are in Lausanne for the talks as well. The talks are aimed at shoring up a tentative framework agreement struck in early April.
Kerry was transported to Geneva's main hospital HUG, where he was being evaluated, Kirby said.
“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,” Kirby said in a statement.
The statement added that Mr. Kerry is in good spirits and is expected to make a full recovery.
Kerry had planned to travel later Sunday to Madrid for meetings with Spain's king and prime minister, before spending two days in Paris for an international conference on combating the Islamic State group. Instead, he plans to participate in the anti-Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) conference via video.
“The Secretary very much regrets not being able to visit Spain to meet with one of our close allies for discussions on a range of issues, as well as being unable to attend the counter-ISIL coalition ministerial meeting on Tuesday in Paris in person,” the State Department statement said.
Kerry's cycling rides have become a theme of his diplomatic journeys. He often takes his bike with him on the plane.
Kerry often bikes on his diplomatic journeys. During discussions in late March and early April between world powers and Iran, he took several bike trips during breaks in the negotiations in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Kerry met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for six hours in a Geneva hotel Saturday as the sides now work to seal a comprehensive accord by June 30.