Massa now in "life-threatening condition"

[lotuspoweredbyford]

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -- Hospital officials say Formula One
driver Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition after
surgery for a fractured skull from a high-speed crash at Hungarian
Grand Prix qualifying.
Officials at the AEK military hospital said Saturday that Massa
will be kept sedated on a respirator in an intensive care unit.
Medical director Peter Bazso said at a news conference that
"Massa's condition is serious, life-threatening but stable."
Bazso and chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros say they expect Massa to be
awoken Sunday.
The 28-year-old Brazilian had surgery one hour after arriving at
the hospital, the doctors said.
Massa was struck in the helmet by a loose part from another car
and his car slammed straight into a tire barrier.

[Liz]

I was really hoping The Bottom Line on ESPN was wrong...thoughts & prayers to Felipe & his family.

[PDC]

Serious but stable is the key. Right now, I just pray Phil is able to live a normal life.

[MethanolBuzzed]

I just watched the clip of the accident. My thoughts and prayers to him and his family.

[JSJLW]

I'm just saying, if it's considered a "lead" story for ESPN. It's bad, it's REAL bad, they only care about Formula 1 if it's real bad.

[fivehundred2go]

I was really hoping The Bottom Line on ESPN was wrong...thoughts & prayers to Felipe & his family.

Ditto

The unfairness of the sport we enjoy - prayers offered for his recovery.

[MichaelP]

Finally watched it... I have to say I am every bit as unimpressed with the safety crews in F1 as I was 15 years ago when Senna got killed.

[PDC]

My wife (nurse) says if they plan to wake him up tomorrow, that is very good news. Let's hope it goes well.

[JWFan64]

My wife (nurse) says if they plan to wake him up tomorrow, that is very good news. Let's hope it goes well.

I think your wife is right. (Kudos to all nurses, they do a fantastic, though difficult job)
It seems that AP got their tenses wrong with the translations. and Felipe arrived at hospital with a life threatening condition, but AP translated it as being after the surgery.

[JWFan64]

Massa's doctor reporting to Brazilian media that brain scan is clear and signs are positive. Family is en route to Hungary now

[JWFan64]

One of the Finnish websites is suggesting they've been told that he could be back in the car in six weeks. I reckon that's slightly optimistic myself, but we could see him again this season.

[MichaelP]

One of the Finnish websites is suggesting they've been told that he could be back in the car in six weeks. I reckon that's slightly optimistic myself, but we could see him again this season.

I can't believe any doctor in their right mind would even speculate on something like that at this time. That said, it was 6 weeks for Niki Lauda to go from last rites to back in the car.

[9rows]

i just read an AP report indicating that he has a fracture at the base of the skull in addition to the fracture in the left forehead area.

scary stuff.

at this point, it sounds like he is expected to make a full recovery.

[lkchris]

Photos here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...81C25EF417164E

[beej]

Finally watched it... I have to say I am every bit as unimpressed with the safety crews in F1 as I was 15 years ago when Senna got killed.

In such a high tech sport monied sport, how in the world can the response be so horrible... this should not be tolerated.

Prayers going out to Phil and those who know and love him...

[Belmore]

i just read an AP report indicating that he has a fracture at the base of the skull in addition to the fracture in the left forehead area.

scary stuff.

at this point, it sounds like he is expected to make a full recovery.

That is good to hear. He looked quite alert when he was taken out of the car, which could be a good sign.

[MDCSWildcats86]

If Ferrari were smart, they would give FM the season off, and alternate Badoer or Gene the rest of the season.

[Neshaminy]

That is good to hear. He looked quite alert when he was taken out of the car, which could be a good sign.

With head injuries the first 15 minutes can be a lie. When the bleeding and swelling begins the brain becomes cramped and under pressure. I firmly believe FM got the care he needed for his injury in proper time.

I recall a show where a TV crew had happened upon a young 22 year old who was shot in the head during a drive by, he was very aware of his surrounding and what had happened. As time wore on he slipped deeper into unconsciousness and passed within an hour. Head injuries are very misleading while the brain is still not swollen. His survival will be due to the advance in head injury treatment, not that he looked alert at the scene. it was a sad slice of life/death,

Search the death of Mark Donahue.

Perhaps FM will survive because of what was learned from Donahue.

[jandj]

With head injuries the first 15 minutes can be a lie. When the bleeding and swelling begins the brain becomes cramped and under pressure. I firmly believe FM got the care he needed for his injury in proper time.

I recall a show where a TV crew had happened upon a young 22 year old who was shot in the head during a drive by, he was very aware of his surrounding and what had happened. As time wore on he slipped deeper into unconsciousness and passed within an hour. Head injuries are very misleading while the brain is still not swollen. His survival will be due to the advance in head injury treatment, not that he looked alert at the scene. it was a sad slice of life/death,

Search the death of Mark Donahue.

Perhaps FM will survive because of what was learned from Donahue.

The same thing happened with the Allman Brother's Band's bassist Berry Oakley.
He didn't appear injured and went home after the motorcycle wreck, saying he felt ok. Hours later he was dead, IIRC from a brain hemmorage. In Duanne's bio, doctors told Berry's family that due to the severity of his injuries even if he had come straight to the hospital they couldn't have saved him, thank God so many advances in medicine have taken place.

[Sweaty Teddy]

In such a high tech sport monied sport, how in the world can the response be so horrible... this should not be tolerated.

Prayers going out to Phil and those who know and love him...

I didn't get the impression that the response was horrible. Track workers were there immediately and the medical car was there shortly after. 15 years ago was Ratzenberger and Senna's fatal accidents at Imola and Karl Wendlinger's crash at Monaco. In all three cases the safety car arrived quickly. In the first two there was nothing they could do when they got there but in the case of Wendlinger they stabilized him, saving his life. Same for Hakkinen in Australia in 1995, when an emergency tracheotomy saved his life.