I've been following this terrible story, but didn't really have anything to say - Obviously we all wish him the very best. Some good news (from Autosport); Get well soon! Cheers, Ian http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89328
Reports today state that Kubica required massive transfusions to stabilize him after serious blood loss; priorities yesterday were stabilization, and restoring circulation to hand tissue, then muscle/ligament/nerve restoration in his hand. Because of the blood loss priority, several traumas were left untreated, so additional surgeries will be required this week. He has arm and shoulder fractures, and leg and hip fractures - one report suggested that he would require at least 3 or 4 months recovery for the bones to heal in his leg (I'd believe that, I spent many years on the ski patrol at Lake Louise in Banff, in one of the worst accidents I attended the patient had a shattered femur, and spent 5 months in the hospital before leaving on crutches to begin rehab). An interview with David Coulthard quoted him as saying that the hand and arm injury will be most critical, as a very delicate touch is required to control the car on the limit while withstanding the 4G+ cornering forces - regaining fine motor control and feel in the hand will be crucial.
The report from Renault press release sounds encouraging. Crossing fingers!. This is a video clip from the car that followed Kubica on the rally. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALbxMiwf4nw[/ame] You can see how narrow the road is and foggy at some parts with low visibility. I don't understand any Italian, but the tone of voices at the end when they came up on Kubica's car was quite serious and tense.
I absolutely admire Kubica and wish him a full and speedy recovery. I am sure the very best doctors are looking after every aspect of his well being. Please don't consider this post in bad taste, but the accident got me thinking about the state of the art of prosthetics and if the monies involved in Formula one thes days that can produce these exotic race vehicles can be applied to health, the following is not out of the range of reality and can vastly improve the quality of life of those less fortunate than Robert. I post this out of respect, and hope more research and development can be done. JD http://fusionfilter.com/?p=3868 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X85Lpuczy3E&feature=player_embedded[/ame] Image Unavailable, Please Login
Jeez not a lot of room for error on that section.. He has a great fighting spirit he needs it now. Get well soon RK..
That's not in bad taste at all, Jeff. They're coming out with new solutions to old problems everyday. Check out the brain computer interface technology developed by Emotiv. I love prosthetics; Its the whole half man half machine thing. Prosthetics embody the notion of loss. You never really get anything back, you just find something to take its place. I hope Kubica makes a full physical recovery; In the event that he does, I would be most worried about any psychological barriers he might have that would maybe hinder the boldness you need in order to continue pushing the car to its limit.
How about a little humor to get us all to smile now that Roberts in good hands. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abCq7rPKsMI[/ame] JD
I guess I didn't finish typing my final thought. Is it customary for guys to do that? Looked like there were plenty of crew there to assist. I would have stopped too and hats off to them.
If there is a serious injury then yes the next car usually stops to assist and call in the accident to shut down the stage if it hasn't already been halted. The WRC has SOS signs in the cars which are held up in the event of an injury, it didn't look as though this series had these
Both driver and co. knew what to see the next moment as they passed Roberts car. Seems to be it was the co. of him who already was out of the car and asked for SOS.
Saw this after posting. http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-will-raikkonen-replace-robert-kubica/
So I would guess he lost control, hit a wall head on, then spun backward into the guardrail, which tore through the car and ripped apart his right arm, leg etc.... Thoughts? Or I am way off?
Wow. Just watching these professional rally drivers totally change their tone from full on attack to voices of almost despair is telling enough. Also if you watch where they were driving, geez, there were plenty of opportunities to get killed. Hitting the guard rail seems the least of the dangerous spots. Just look at some of the straight/head on stone walls or the sheer drop offs. I'm really stunned Renault let Kubica participate in this.
That looks like one of those magic tricks where they stick swords through a basket. It's amazing he survived that.
