Alex Zanardi

Zanardi’s condition remains stable after second night in hospital

2020 F1 season

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Alex Zanardi remains in a stable condition after undergoing surgery for head and facial injuries on Friday, the hospital treating him has reported.

“The patient spent the night in conditions of cardio-respiratory and metabolic stability,” the Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital in Siena confirmed in a press statement on Sunday morning.

“The organ functions are adequate. [He] is always sedated, intubated and mechanically ventilated.”

Zanardi’s neurological condition remains a major area of concern due to the nature of his injuries.

“The ongoing neuromonitoring has shown some stability but this figure must be taken with caution because the neurological picture remains serious,” said the hospital.

“The current conditions of general stability still do not allow to exclude the possibility of adverse events and, therefore, the patient always remains in a reserved prognosis.”

The hospital intends to issue a further update at midday tomorrow.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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12 comments on “Zanardi’s condition remains stable after second night in hospital”

  1. I’m very sad about the news, but if reports are true that he was filming on his phone in a race on public roads and wandered over the centre line of the road towards the truck then it would seem he only has himself to blame.

    I still wish him the best of luck as he fights his injuries.

    1. Can you show source of these reports??

    2. Why exactly does Zanardi have only himself to blame? Handbiking on public roads? Having a phone attached to his bike? Maybe he is also to blame because he got out of bed in the morning?

    3. Ahm, I think that is really nonsense @sham. This was a HAND-bike (remember, he has no lower legs anymore after his almost deadly IncyCar accident), so it is virtually impossibly that he would be using a phone with in his hands.

      Also, this was an official race (I find it quite galling and surprising how many bycicle races still go on without closing the whole road really) and he was one of the participants. It is possible that there was some footage, maybe they use go pro cameras (mounted on the frame, or on the helmet?).

      The reports I saw was that he lost control and veered over the centre line.

      1. Thanks for that @bascb, have to say I didn’t until now really look at exactly what happened, but indeed that does seem to be the gist of it. It is indeed astounding that an official race in this day and age is taking place w/o closing the road.

        PS.
        For anyone who wants details: The-Race.com says

        Zanardi is reported to have been taking part in a relay race in Pienza when he was involved in an accident with a large vehicle.

        , or more detailed about what happened, from Racer.com:

        “It happened on a slightly downhill straightaway just before a slight curve in the road,” national team coach Mario Valentini, who was following the race, told Repubblica. “Alex veered slightly into the oncoming lane just when a truck came. (The truck) tried to swerve but couldn’t avoid the crash.”

      2. Thanks for that @bascb, have to say I didn’t until now really look at exactly what happened, but indeed that does seem to be the gist of it (as racefans.net reported yesterday), he was a participant in the race, but that truck was also on the road. It is indeed astounding that an official race in this day and age is taking place w/o closing the road.

        1. FlyingLobster27
          21st June 2020, 19:19

          Endurance-Info (French sportscar site) has it from the Corriere Della Serra that the race wasn’t officially sanctioned in any way @bascb @bosyber. Per their reopening strategy, Italian authorities are not officially allowing events like these until August, hence no road closing. It seems these 50-ish cyclists were running at their own risk.

          I really hope Zanardi will recover fully, but when major head trauma’s involved, it’s hard for me to be optimistic.

      3. @bascb

        I find it quite galling and surprising how many bycicle races still go on without closing the whole road really

        I’ve seen similar comments to this several times over the last couple of days. Bicycle racing events have to go on without closing the whole road because in almost 100% of cases closing roads is simply not permitted. I’m sure the organisers would have loved to have closed roads roads but unfortunately priority is given to other road traffic and it is very rare that a road can be closed for any event at all. It is exceptionally rare for road closures to be given for bicycle races (and even when it does happen it is not unheard of for vehicles to still find their way onto the course and cause accidents because the logistics are extremely complex unless you have an army of officials such as they do at the Tour de France). I’ve been involved in organising closed road events and even having gone through the arduous process of getting permissions/permits etc and despite advertising in advance you still get berated by motorists who find the inconvenience of having to findan alternative route at 7am on a Sunday morning utterly unacceptable. Cars rule the roads and cyclists (whether racing or not) have no choice but to accept a fair amount of risk.

    4. It appears the reports I read were confused – he was apparently recording on his phone just prior to the accident, but had returned the phone to a holster and was riding normally at the time of the accident. Apparently, latest thought is he lost control and went into the path of the truck.

      Latest news reports seem slightly more positive regarding his injuries. Here’s hoping.

  2. I hope he is not a vegetable like Schumacher. At least the fans are getting updates.

    1. Chris Horton
      22nd June 2020, 8:57

      Please don’t use that word. I know it’s a common way to refer to that condition, but it’s so abrupt. I’m sure you didn’t mean to come across badly.

  3. So sad. These head injuries are truly terrifying. At least he was doing what he loved!

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