Woods discharged from hospital

Oxford bowman Alexander Woods has been released from hospital following his collapse during the Boat Race.

Woods fell ill in his boat after passing the finish line in the race, which was interrupted by a man in the water before being won by Cambridge.

The 27-year-old Pembroke College student was later said to be in a stable condition and has now been deemed well enough to be discharged.

Oxford coach Sean Bowden told BBC Radio Five Live: "He's on his way back home to Oxford.

"I think it was just a case of somebody being able to row themselves absolutely to a state of exhaustion."

Immediately after the race, Bowden put Woods' collapse down to the "most extraordinary and unfortunate chain of events" that were set in motion by the swimming protester, who forced the race to be halted.

Oxford lost a blade in a fierce clash of oars shortly after the restart, allowing Cambridge to pull clear to win by over four lengths.

"I guess you can only imagine the desperation that Alex must have been in with only six crew-mates left and that's probably how he ended up pushing himself beyond his limits," Bowden said.

Woods appeared to be unconscious when he was lifted out of the Oxford boat but he was in a stable condition when paramedics transferred him to Charing Cross Hospital.

The former lightweight rower had been at Oxford for 10 years and worked his way up to the blue boat having competed in the reserve Isis crew last year.