Ford rally team principal Malcolm Wilson says Francois Duval's injured co-driver Patrick Pivato is making good progress in hospital in Japan.
The Frenchman sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries when Stobart Ford driver Duval, who was running second at the time, crashed into a barrier during SS6 of the Japanese event Friday of last week.
The co-driver's side of the car took the full force of the high-speed impact, and Pivato was airlifted to Higashi Tokushukai hospital in Sapporo.
During surgery to attend to his fractured pelvis and tibia, internal bleeding was discovered, necessitating a second operation. He was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma and listed in a critical but stable condition.
"The Rally Japan's medical staff and rescue teams at the scene of the accident did a really professional job in extricating Patrick from the car and transferring him to hospital in Sapporo. The skill of the doctors and surgeons there saved his life and for that we are truly grateful.
"During the Friday night it became apparent that the lack of the rare A- blood in Sapporo could become a real concern during surgery. My thanks go to those people from teams, organisations and the media who responded to an SOS appeal to donate blood from that group during the night. Further volunteers came forward the following day to ensure medical staff had sufficient blood to ease their fears."
Fortunately, Pivato is now making good progress and should be transferred home in Lyon, France soon.
photo:Ford
The Frenchman sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries when Stobart Ford driver Duval, who was running second at the time, crashed into a barrier during SS6 of the Japanese event Friday of last week.
The co-driver's side of the car took the full force of the high-speed impact, and Pivato was airlifted to Higashi Tokushukai hospital in Sapporo.
During surgery to attend to his fractured pelvis and tibia, internal bleeding was discovered, necessitating a second operation. He was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma and listed in a critical but stable condition.
"The Rally Japan's medical staff and rescue teams at the scene of the accident did a really professional job in extricating Patrick from the car and transferring him to hospital in Sapporo. The skill of the doctors and surgeons there saved his life and for that we are truly grateful.
"During the Friday night it became apparent that the lack of the rare A- blood in Sapporo could become a real concern during surgery. My thanks go to those people from teams, organisations and the media who responded to an SOS appeal to donate blood from that group during the night. Further volunteers came forward the following day to ensure medical staff had sufficient blood to ease their fears."
Fortunately, Pivato is now making good progress and should be transferred home in Lyon, France soon.
photo:Ford