Saturday, 07 July 2012
Categories: News - General

Maria de Villota has more surgery, now listed as serious

FORMULA One test driver Maria de Villota has been taken off the critical list and is now considered “serious but stable” after undergoing a second round of surgery for significant facial injuries.

The Spaniard, 32m a driver for F1 team Marussia, is in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, England, with extensive head and facial injuries sustained when her race car smashed into the rear of a truck at Duxford Airfield on Wednesday (AEST).

Her right eye was removed during several hours of initial surgery soon after the accident.

Marussia released a statement this morning after her second operation.

“This was a planned procedure that would depend upon the continued stability of Maria's head injuries.

“This morning the medical team were sufficiently happy with her progress to allow the operation to go ahead.

“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, the secondary operation took significantly less time.

“Since the operation, 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 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.”

De Villota, the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota,  was appointed a test driver with Marussia in March. 

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