Possum Bourne injured.

[RallyRaider]

Just heard the dreadful news that Possum Bourne has had a major accident while on a recce in New Zealand. Reportedly he is in a critical condition with two broken both legs and head injuries. He was trapped unconcious in his car for twenty minutes while rescue crews cut him out of the wreck. Sounds very, very bad.

I wish Possum the best and hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.

[Jimster]

This is what I have gathered from it all......................Possum was due to compete in the Queenstown Hillclimb event and was surveying the course- another competitor in the race was also surveying and coming down the oppisite way- The Jeep Grand Cherokee that the other drive was in struck Possums Forester and then rolled on its side, while Possums Subaru was pushed down a bank asnd rolled..................He remains in a critical condition- he has just come out of theatre after having his legs pinned back together and Yesterday had an operation to release pressure on his skull...................It si doubtful that he'll ever race again and on the same year he went international as well

[Guido]

[Jimster]

Update- he has been downgraded from a critical condition to a serious condition

[Marco_Wrc]

That's very sad news. Hope he'll survive.

[ales]

Originally posted by Marco_Wrc
That's very sad news. Hope he'll survive.

I agree...

[Jimster]

Originally posted by Marco_Wrc
That's very sad news. Hope he'll survive.

Looks like he will survive- BUT I do wonder if he'll be able to rally again

[ales]

He's gone

[Marco_Wrc]

source: rallycarmodelgroup @ yahoo

Tonight the following news has been released regarding Possum Bourne:

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.

[Marco_Wrc]

Originally posted by ales
He's gone

O no... it's always hard to hear a sportsman passed away. He's the second rally driver this week who dies who I know of, just tragic.
May he rest in peace.

[Guido]

Originally posted by ales
He's gone

Amen

[RallyRaider]

This is terrible, terrible news. Most of us from Australia and New Zealand held Possum Bourne in enoumously high regard. I am really shocked by this. When I first heard of the accident I assumed he would pull through, even if he couldn't drive he'd continue running his team.

But that is not going to happen now and it is so sad. Reading between the lines of the above quote it seems that Possum is at this moment still alive but so badly brain damaged that he is not expected to survive.

Only bright point is that in Coady Crocker he has trained his sucessor who can carry on in his place.

[RallyRaider]

Heard ealier in the radio news that Posum Bourne has finally passed away after his life support was switched off yesterday. Gosdpeed Possum, RIP.

Can't believe we won't see his smiling face through the door of a Subaru anymore.

[Jimster]

I don't think he has passed away yet- apparentley- on the 6PM news in NZ they said he still remains in a critical condition after the disconnection life support- that is about 6 hours after you made your post..................But the damage is nearly unrepairable it seems

[Purpura Delujo]

Originally posted by Jimster
I don't think he has passed away yet

It's been confirmed a few hours ago, Possum is gone

Anyone in the NZ know of any tributes to him? He has accomplished more then any other NZ Rally driver though, he was certainly the best rally driver down here. I'm positive he would of won his, last rally