Webber badly hurt in cycling accident

HOBART, Australia (Reuters) - Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber has been seriously injured after being hit by a car while competing in a charity multi-sport event in Tasmania.

Webber, who drives for the Red Bull team, was cycling near the historic convict town of Port Arthur when he collided with a four-wheel drive.

Webber was competing in his own charity event, the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, a 250km event using mountain bikes, kayaks and trekking, when the accident happened.

Tasmania Police Sergeant Jon Ford said Webber had suffered "serious but non-life threatening injuries."

"He was attended at the scene by paramedics attached to the event before being airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital," Ford added.

The male driver of the vehicle escaped injury but no further details were known about the motorist, said Ford.

Webber was competing on the penultimate day of the five-day challenge, which also includes abseiling and whitewater rafting.

Event director Geoff Donohue said he could not confirm "speculative reports" that Webber had suffered multiple arm and leg fractures until doctors had properly diagnosed the injuries.

"It would appear he's suffered a fractured leg but until doctors confirm the extent of Mark's injuries, we won't know for sure -- it's still early days," Donohue said.

"Mark's in good spirits. Paramedics attached to the event attended to Mark very swiftly and he's had really good treatment at the scene before being transferred to hospital.

"It was a really unfortunate accident."

(Reporting by Andrew Stevens in Brisbane; Editing by John O'Brien)