New Zealand skier Ben Harrington walks away after ‘insane’ crash on Olympic halfpipe

New Zealand skier Ben Harrington has walked off the course unassisted after an “insane” fall in which he hit his head and neck on the lip of the halfpipe.

The 20-year-old, on his Winter Olympic debut, was on his second run of qualifiers for the men’s freeski halfpipe in Beijing’s Genting Snow Park on Thursday when he crashed.

Watch Ben Harrington’s shocking crash in the video above

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After scoring an impressive 69.25 on his first run to sit 10th, the Kiwi had started his second run confidently by landing a double cork 1280 and leftside alley-oop double cork 720.

But on his last trick, in which he went into reverse, he took air then crashed head first into the edge.

Members of the New Zealand team and medicos raced out to Harrington at the base of the course.

He was unmoved for about a minute-and-a-half, as Kiwi team members were seen clearly distressed, with hands over their mouths.

As he walked away from the course, Harrington waved and said, ”Thank you everyone”.

Channel 7 commentators Mitch Tomlinson and Ryan Tiene were in disbelief he was about to walk away.

“Ben Harrington just had all our hearts in our mouths then,” Tomlinson said.

“That fall was insane. To be walking away from that (I am stunned).

“We are so glad that our Kiwi brother is alright after that fall.”

The New Zealand Olympic team said on Facebook he is “okay” after the “scary crash”.

Harrington was one spot from qualifying from the 12-person final.

Compatriots Nico and Miguel Porteous, who are brothers, qualified for the final on Saturday

Nico Porteous, who won bronze in the event in the 2018 Games, scored 90.50 to be the second-best qualifier behind American Aaron