Official: The track marshal has died
The FIA announced in a statement that the marshal injured last night during the evacuation of Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber had succumbed to his injuries at the Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal.
Seriously injured, as we announced to you last night, during the evacuation of Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber, once the checkered flag had been lowered, the track marshal has died, the FIA announced.
While helping to remove the Sauber from the Montreal track, the marshal was injured in a fall when he was next to the crane, apparently trying to retrieve a radio that had fallen to the ground. The operator of the vehicle, unable to see the man lying on the ground, was also unable to avoid him. Quickly transported to the medical center of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit and then airlifted to the Sacré-Cœur Hospital in Montreal in critical condition, the marshal did not survive his injuries despite the efforts of the trauma department.
The death of this marshal recalls those of other track marshals in the early 2000s: for instance, Paolo Ghilimberti fell victim to the massive pile-up at the second chicane of the 2000 Italian Grand Prix when a stray wheel hit him, just as Graham Beveridge was struck in the chest by the wheel of Jacques Villeneuve’s BAR at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, which had been sent flying from Ralf Schumacher’s Williams.
It should also be noted that during the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix, a marshal narrowly avoided being run over when he fell on the track while picking up debris. Two drivers had to avoid him.
