Cape Town - A 13-year old provincial athlete who was knocked down by a taxi while training in Johannesburg is in an induced coma.

Pierre Vermaak, a South African under-13 race-walking champion, was training with friends on Wednesday when a taxi came hurtling down Ninth Street in Greymont and struck him.

The youngster was dragged several metres along the road.

Vermaak, a pupil at the Louw Geldenhuys Primary School in Linden is being treated in the intensive care unit of the Milpark Hospital.

While he is still in a coma, doctors are satisfied with his condition.

Vermaak's coach, Riaan Strydom - who witnessed the incident - told the Beeld newspaper that the accident happened in a flash.

"I can't say if the taxi was speeding or whether the driver was reckless. That will probably be determined by the investigation," said Strydom.

He said all that mattered to him was that Pierre was still alive.

Frik Vermaak, Peet's father and a well-renowned athletics commentator, says he is angered by the whole incident.

"My son was innocently busy practicing his sport and then something like this happens. It could easily have been much worse."

Vermaak said his son fractured his skull, broke his pelvic bone as well as his right leg.

"His liver was also damaged and he could need plastic surgery to repair the damage to his face," said Vermaak.