Spanish F1 driver Maria de Villota has undergone further surgery for her facial injuries, which she sustained in a crash on Tuesday, at Duxford Airfield.
The 32 year old woman was just starting her first proper test for the Marussia team, when her car suddenly lunged forward and directy into the back of a team truck parked with the loading ramp in an unfortunate position. De Villota´s head was positioned approximately 70 cm from the ground, but so was the ramp. De Villota hit the ramp with the helmet taking the brunt of the impact, leaving her with a fractured skull and several facial injuries.
Tuesday and Wednesday she was in surgery, but the doctors was not able to save her right eye. Her condition has been lowered from critical to serious and she remains stable. Friday de Villota was once again in surgery, the doctors performing the operation said it went as planned and it was successful. Marussia issued a statement on Friday evening.
“Earlier today, Maria underwent further surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. This was a planned procedure that would depend upon the continued stability of Maria’s head injuries, and this morning the medical team were sufficiently happy with her progress to allow the operation to go ahead,” the statement said.
“Earlier today, the surgeons successfully completed the next phase of surgery required to address Maria’s facial injuries. After the lengthy initial procedure, which commenced on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday, today’s secondary operation took significantly less time.
“Since the operation today, Maria’s condition in relation to the head trauma she received has further improved, to the extent that she is now ‘serious but stable’.
“Whilst Maria remains acutely ill, this confirms that she has been responding well to the treatment she has received since her accident. Coupled with the significant progress that has been made with regard to her facial injuries, we feel sufficiently comfortable to proceed with a further update.
“On a more personal note, we have taken a great deal of encouragement from today’s developments and the rather more positive signs for Maria’s family.”
