Alex Zanardi, a phenomenal sportsman who was both a Formula One driver and a Paralympic champion with four gold medals under his belt is now regrettably in artificial coma after sustaining serious cervical injuries due to damages to the head after a crash at a cycling race he was participating in.
The 53-year-old Zanardi, who had both his legs amputated after a motor racing accident almost 20 years ago, lost control of his handbike machine while competing in the relay race in Tuscany, Italy on Friday.point 289 |
According to multiple reports, he crossed the white line into the path of an oncoming truck, which was unable to avoid him.point 102 | Following the accident, the Italian was airlifted to then Siena where he underwent three hours of emergency neurological surgery for facial head injuries.point 234 | 1
Zanardi, who is 53-year-old and a virile sportsman even now after his prime, had his leg amputated in a previous big accident in his life at a racing incident 2 decades ago.point 252 |
This incident, which happened in a cycling relay race in Tuscany named ‘Obiettivo tricolore’, provided the venue for the tragedy, as he is reported to have lost control of his machine that he was on.point 179 | Reports say he had consequentially trespassed the white line on the road, which led him in the path of an impending truck which was coming from the other side.point 310 |
He is now in the medical attention of the Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital.point 64 | He is known to have gone through major surgery three times, concerning neurological afflictions in the face and brain.point 164 | 1
The hospital has released the following statement: “He is incubated and supported by artificial ventilation while the neurological picture remains serious,” read the medical bulletin.
“No Alex, no!” said Corrierre dello Sport, while Italian prime minister Giusseppe Conte wrote on Twitter: “Come on Alex # Zanardi, don’t give up. All of Italy is fighting with you.”
“Alex is one of life’s truly inspirational people and as we all know, a fighter through and through. Stay strong and Forza Alex,” his former Williams team posted on Twitter.
“Fight as you know how to do it, Alex. You are a very great man, courage,” Ferrari star Charles Leclerc tweeted in Italian.
He was in training for this year’s Tokyo Paralympics, hoping to add to his impressive tally of gold medals, until it was postponed.
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