Improved transport systems have been put in place to avoid repeats of an accident which saw an Austrian synchronised swimmer left with spinal injuries after a crash with a shuttle bus in the athletes’ village, European Games organisers said on Sunday June 14 .

Vanessa Sahinovic was one of three 15-year-old swimmers injured as they walked along the pavement on Thursday, a day before the event’s opening ceremony.

Sahinovic was flown back to Vienna on the day of the incident where multiple fractures to her hip and thigh region and a damaged spine were operated on all night.

Team mate Luna Pajer suffered a broken arm and was also flown home while a third swimmer, Verena Breit, received treatment in Baku before returning to the athletes’ village.

Games organisers confirmed a police investigation had been launched and have since said improved systems had been implemented across the city to avoid a repeat.

The inaugural European Games, which began on Friday, runs to June 28.