( CNN ) -- Tragedy has struck ahead of the 2014 Paralympic Games with the death of Australian para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson following a heart attack . The 28-year-old Robinson suffered neck and spinal injuries after a crash in La Molina , a ski resort in Catalonia , Spain , on February 12 . His spent eight days in a Barcelona hospital recovering and was then cleared to be flown back to Australia . But during a planned refueling stop in Nairobi , Kenya , Robinson suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be revived . Robinson competed in upper limb impairment disciplines . Although para-snowboarding will make its Paralympic debut in Russia next month , upper limb impairment disciplines will not be contested . Follow all of the action from Sochi 2014 live . `` The Australian Paralympic Committee ( APC ) is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson , '' read an APC statement . `` Our thoughts and prayers are with Matthew 's parents , his fiancee , his family and his teammates . Our immediate concern is to do everything possible to support them at this extremely sad and difficult time . '' Robinson suffered from arthrogryposis , a condition which affects joints . `` The whole of the Paralympic Movement is deeply saddened by this heart breaking tragedy , '' International Paralympic Committee ( IPC ) president Philip Craven said in a statement . `` Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Matthew 's fiancee , family , friends and teammates at this difficult time . `` Matthew was a world class and extremely popular athlete , a fact underlined by the vast number of support messages he received from around the world following last week 's accident . He sustained his injuries doing the sport he loved most . `` The IPC and whole of the Paralympic Movement are in deep mourning at his passing . The Movement is a close knit family and he will be sadly missed by all . '' The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games will begin on March 7 .
Para - snowboarder Matthew Robinson passes away after a heart attack . The Australian suffered a cardiac arrest in Nairobi , Kenya . Robinson was being transported from Kenya to Australia following a crash last week . He suffered head and spinal injuries after an accident in Kenya on February 12 .