I'm lucky to be alive, says Ferrari's Massa
Posted by Syimah Tuesday, 04 August 2009 15:48
The Brazilian was struck by a suspension spring which had worked its way off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP, resulting in Massa crashing his Ferrari into a tyre barrier in qualifying in Budapest.
Massa needed emergency surgery on his fractured skull and spent two days in a medically-induced coma.
"I know I'm lucky to be alive," Massa told the News of the World.
"I don't remember anything about the accident but I will race again."
He explained: "When I woke up I didn't know why I was in hospital, so I was asking 'why am I here?'.
"I was pulling all the tubes and Eduardo, my brother, tried to stop me so we had a fight.
"The accident was so unlucky but I know I'm lucky to be alive. I don't remember anything of what happened.
"It was my race, so when I awoke from the coma I couldn't believe it when they told me Lewis (Hamilton) had won and Kimi (Raikkonen) was second."
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will take over from Massa behind the wheel of the Ferrari at the next race in Valencia on Aug 23.
INJURED Formula One driver Felipe Massa left a Budapest hospital after nine days of treatment yesterday, boarding a private jet home to Brazil on his own feet.
Ferrari's Massa, who fractured his skull in an accident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, was seen smiling and shaking hands with officials at Budapest's Ferihegy International Airport.
His left eye was badly bruised but slightly open and there were no bandages over the line of stitches on his left temple.
The 28-year-old driver, last year's championship runner-up, spent several days in an induced coma and on a respirator but was released from an intensive care unit last Wednesday. (Courtesy Of Brunei Times)
