Post by OT on Apr 28, 2003 4:13:50 GMT -5
Life support turned off for Possum
28.04.2003
7.30pm
Critically injured New Zealand rally driver Possum Bourne was tonight taken off full life support at the intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital.
A statement issued by Bourne's family said New Zealand's top rally driver had suffered a severe brain injury in a car crash on April 18 and had been actively managed since then.
"The extent and severity of the injury was not fully apparent until this weekend just gone, when ventilation support was decreased but he deteriorated and had to go back onto full support," the statement said.
Evaluation today which included a brain scan confirmed the severity of the original injury and "continuing full support is no longer in Possum's best interests."
Bourne, 47, suffered serious head and leg injuries in an accident during preparations for the Race to the Sky hillclimb near Cardrona, Central Otago, on Good Friday.
The car he was driving collided with a car driven by fellow rally driver Mike Baltrop.
Bourne who was taken to Dunedin Hospital and operated on, has been in a drug induced coma since then.
Bourne is New Zealand's only professional rally driver and in 20 years of racing has three times claimed the Asia-Pacific title.
He is the reigning Australian Rally champion, having won the title a record seven times.
- NZPA
Possum Bourne seriously injured
Bourne involved in head-on crash
By David Thomson
Possum Bourne has been seriously injured in a freak accident on the course of this weekend's Silverstone Race to the Sky hillclimb, prior to the start of the event.
Bourne, who was returning from the top of the hillclimb course after a reconnaissance run in a Subaru Forester road car, collided head-on with another competitor, who was the last of several cars in a convoy also undertaking a reconnaissance of the 15km course in road vehicles, but proceeding uphill.
Bourne, with wife Peggy at his side, was airlifted to Dunedin hospital, which is the main hospital facility for New Zealand's lower South Island. He was listed as a class-one casualty, which is reserved for the most seriously injuries, and his condition on Saturday night was reported as 'critical'.
The driver of the other vehicle - well-known South Island competitor Mike Barltrop - sustained a broken leg.
The accident happened on a wide, straight section of the climb at a lip over a crest. Local police have confirmed that excessive speed was not a factor in the crash, estimating that both vehicles were travelling at 60kph or less at the time of crash.
"He [Bourne] was on the correct side of the road and wearing a seat belt at the time," said event organizer Grant Aitken. "It would appear that dusty conditions may have contributed to the collision."
Eye witness reports suggest that Bourne was hit amidships by the Jeep Cherokee Barltrop was driving.
With such injuries, it is certain that 48-year old Bourne will miss both next week's Canberra Rally and next month's Argentine Rally.