A 19-year-old college sprinter ran backwards onto a javelin and was sent to hospital with part of it still in his chest

A 19-year-old American sprinter accidentally impaled himself on a javelin and was sent to hospital with it sticking out of his chest.

Georgia athlete Elija Godwin was at the University of Georgia track for a practice session on Tuesday when he accidentally backed into a stationary javelin that was stuck in the ground, a university statement read.

According to Deadspin, Godwin was taking part in a backwards sprinting drill at the time.

The Atlanta news station 11Alive reports that the javelin went through his back, puncturing his lung. His athletics team-mates rushed to help him, 11Alive says, the javelin was sawn off by rescue workers, and he was loaded into an ambulance with part of it still inside his body.

Godwin was then taken to hospital and underwent surgery at Athens Regional Medical Center, Fox News reported.

By Wednesday, he was in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

In the university statement, Ron Courson, the director of sports medicine for University of Georgia, said: "We would like to express appreciation for all those who acted so quickly and efficiently in coming to the aid of Elija."

He added: "Special thanks to our sports medicine staff, police, fire-rescue, and Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center."

Godwin's personal best records in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints are 10.47 seconds and 20.59 seconds, respectively. He will miss the rest of the 2019 season, Fox says, but could return in 2020.