Alex Zanardi is fighting for his life. © APA (AFP/Getty) / JONATHAN FERREY
The Motorsport world to pray for Alex Zanardi. The serious accident of former formula 1 pilot with a so-called hand-bike has rocked current and former drivers.
20. June 2020
“I’m so scared to Alex Zanardi that I stop breathing. I’m a big Fan of his. I’m his friend,” wrote the American formula 1 world champion of 1978, Mario Andretti, on Twitter: “Please do what I’m doing: pray, Pray for this wonderful man.” The current formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc Ferrari tweeted: “fights, You know how. You’re great.“
Condition is critical
Zanardi a serious accident on Friday with his hand bike in Italy. Media reported that he was in Pienza on a sloping road on the opposite side, and with a Truck collides supposed to be. He was immediately flown with a rescue helicopter to a hospital. The Doctors spoke of a “delicate neurosurgical Operation”, which was launched immediately. Zanardi had been brought in with severe head injuries and nearly three hours of surgery, told the “Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senesedas” late on Friday evening. Zanardi was transferred to the intensive care unit, his condition was “very serious”.
Here, the accident occurred. © ANSA / Radio Siena TV
“Shocked and praying that he is okay,” wrote the British Ex-world champion Damon Hill on Twitter. “For him, his family and friends and millions of Fans and followers, we are praying for you, Alex.” The entire motorsports community was with him, wrote to the Spanish formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz: “Give more than ever before.” Thoughts are all with him, the formula 1 tweeted, in the Zanardi from 1991 to 1994 and then again in 1999, to a total of 44 Grands Prix, took part.
The News Agency AP reported that Zanardi should have suffered a severe head trauma. Mario Valentini, head coach of the Italian hand Cycling team, had been after a short time on the scene of the accident, reported that Zanardi was still conscious and had spoken. Zanardi competed in a race for Paralympic athletes with hand bikes and bikes in Tuscany.
Zanardi, the happy nature
He, of all people, of all things, Zanardi, the fate already met once, hard, and also had drawn. Ironically, this happy nature. A person who can infect others with his Laugh, his joy of life, with his fighting spirit. One, of just 20 years ago, after a devastating accident on the lausitzring with the death rank. He defeated him then, after he was killed in an accident in the Champcar series. A horrible accident. Zanardi lost in the horror crash on the 15. September 2001 both legs. That he survived the accident in which he had shot with his car, and a competitor whose car was crashed into in him, a miracle.
In the helicopter on the way to the emergency hospital in Berlin, Zanardi had seven times to be revived. He had a lot, lost a lot of blood. But Zanardi survived and returned after a long rehab, even back in the racing. Admired by colleagues, from Fans, from people all over the world.
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Started as a para-athlete: Alex Zanardi © APA/afp / ANDREAS SOLARO
The life of zeal, of on 23. October 1966 in Bologna-born Zanardi seemed simply indestructible. Or, as his longtime employer wrote to BMW once: “Alessandro Zanardi is a phenomenon and living proof that there are no limits when engaging in a challenge with passion and enthusiasm.”
Only two years after the Crash, Zanardi was back in the Cockpit of a race car – rebuilt for his needs. In the German touring car Masters, he celebrated four victories. But that was not enough, Zanardi took on a second career, he won at the Paralympics in 2012 and 2016, twice the gold medal with the hand bike. Even before the Ironman Zanardi did not stop, and overcame all the difficulties and challenges. Now, however, he fights against the most difficult opponents, again. And not only the Motorsport world, pray that this man wins this fight again.
Author: Reuters/leo
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