‘No fear of paralysis’ for teen F3 driver after spinal surgery following Macau crash
Related Story: Driver breaks her back in horrific F3 crash that sees racecar clear barrier
Teenage German Formula Three driver Sophia Floersch has had successful surgery with "no fear of paralysis" after an aerial crash at the Macau Grand Prix, her team boss has said.
Key points:
- Sophia Floersch was going about 275kph when she crashed
- She launched off the car of another driver, Sho Tsuboi, leaving scratches on his helmet
- Three motorcyclists were taken to hospital after crashes on the same circuit this week
Floersch, 17, suffered a spinal fracture at the street circuit when her car catapulted off the track and into a photographers' bunker while travelling at more than 275 kilometres per hour.
"Everything is working and everything is in order," team boss Frits Van Amersfoort told the BBC.
"[Paralysis] was the main fear. That's why the operation had to be done quite quickly because there was a danger [the spinal cord] could be damaged.
"We are extremely happy that she is now recovering and that everything went extremely well. There's no fear of paralysis whatsoever."
Floersch was conscious when taken to hospital in the former Portuguese territory, assuring her followers on Twitter that she was "fine".
Her social team also provided an update during surgery, saying doctors were "deliberately working slowly to avoid risks" and the operation was "without complications".
President of the governing International Automobile Federation Jean Todt promised a full investigation to find out what happened in the crash.
Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, who Floersch hit before flying through the catch fencing, was also taken to hospital with lower back pain, but he said his concern was for Floersch.
"I went to the hospital and had a thorough inspection, and the body is fine," he tweeted.
"Her life is not in danger. My helmet was scratched, but I was really lucky."
The Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee said in a statement he had been discharged after treatment.
Chan Wai Sin, chief medical officer of the Macau Grand Prix, said two photographers and one track marshal were also injured in the crash and taken to hospital for treatment.
Crashes are frequent at the Macau Grand Prix, which this year hosted six car and motorcycle races on the 6.2-kilometre Guia Circuit around the streets of the island.
Last year, British motorcyclist Daniel Hegarty died after hitting the safety barrier during a race, the eighth rider to have lost his life on the circuit since 1973.
Three motorcyclists were taken to hospital after crashes at the circuit this week with Briton Andrew Dudgeon requiring a metal rod to be inserted in his spine after a crash in practice.
Reuters/ABC
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