Webber has op on broken leg

Eurosport - Sun, 23 Nov 06:30:00 2008

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber has undergone surgery after he broke his right leg in a cycling crash during his own outdoor adventure event in Tasmania.

2008 European GP Red Bull Webber - 0

Webber, 32, who drives for the Red Bull team, was cycling near Port Arthur in southern Tasmania when he collided with a vehicle.

Webber was competing in his own charity event, the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, a 250-kilometre (155-mile) challenge using mountain bikes, kayaks and trekking, when the accident happened.

"The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins," Event Director Geoff Donohue confirmed.

Despite reports of more serious injuries, including possible multiple bone fractures, Donohue said the broken leg is the Red Bull driver's only problem.

"He has a little bit of a graze on his left forearm, but he has had full scans and everything else is clear," he said of Webber. "He'll be in hospital for at least three days, for sure under a week."

Webber was airlifted from the scene near Port Arthur to the Royal Hobart Hospital, and later transferred to Hobart Private Hospital.

It is understood he will be out of action for at least six weeks, with Donohue confirming that Webber will surely miss Red Bull's scheduled test at Jerez next month.

"He might miss out on a little bit of testing but at this stage that's about all," he said.

F1 Live / / Eurosport

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  1. Webber is unlucky in any sport he participates in! Im­ sure that this won't impact to much with next­ seasons racing.

    To rod.pic2 and all others on similar­ comments, why be too busy categorising cyclist and­ drivers as two different types of people, at the end of­ the day you are either considerate or stupid, no matter­ if you are a cyclist or­ driver.

    Not-a-cyclist-or-driver - Pedestrians Rule!!!!

    From Elsy, on Sat 22 Nov 11:56AM

  2. Sincere best wishes to Mark, get well soon. C'mon­ though YAHOO, do we really need to see eight similar­ versions of the same story?

    From Steve B, on Sat 22 Nov 11:55AM

  3. Get well soon Mark Im sure you,ll be ok for next­ season, heres hoping anyway, if not for the the­ beginning of the season then by the time you get to the­ uk grand prix then see you there

    From june.taylor9, on Sat 22 Nov 11:48AM

  4. Considering we have no reports as to who caused the­ accident, the mind boggles as to the mental capacity of­ those above who decry cyclists. One can only hope that,­ at some time in the future, driving tests involve a­ mental assesment of any prospective learner, and refuse­ such idiots even the opportunity to get behind the­ wheel. In addition to the loss of their petrol fumes,­ the world would benefit from less of their hot air.­ Perhaps a period of one year's compulsory road­ cycling might actually bring to light the utter idiocy­ that some drivers display with regard to­ cyclists.
    A-Cyclist-and-Driver

    From rod.pic2, on Sat 22 Nov 11:33AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @14: Which is exactly what I wish on those cyclists­ that:-

    1) Ride through red lights...
    2) Ride with no­ lights on whilst wearing dark clothes at night...
    3)­ Ride through pedestrian crossings while people are­ crossing and then shout abuse at any pedestrian who­ gets in their way...
    4) Rides on the pavement­ endangering pedestrians...
    5) Ride past my car about 2­ inches away and then expect a cars width when I go back­ past them.

    Which is about 80% of cyclists on the road­ these days. They should all be forced to have an­ identifiable number; like a registration plate on their­ bike, insurance and road tax. I know one thing, I will­ lose no sleep the day I put a law breaking cyclist into­ the gutter, none at all.

    When I used to cycle, I­ followed the laws of the highway code, something I­ doubt modern cyclists have ever seen. They probably­ couldn't read it though, there are some long words­ in there, like "crossing", "lights"­ etc

    From on3ofm4ny, on Sat 22 Nov 11:27AM

  6. Mark, you scared me. My 1st favorite F1 driver was Elio­ deAngelis. Then Ayrton Senna. After 12 years of not­ having a favorite, I finally couldn't deny anymore­ that you were that driver. Now I wake up here in the­ States to this headline and my heart nearly skipped a­ beat. Get well, soon, you need all your faculties to­ keep up with that new teammate!
    &rea

    From &rea, on Sat 22 Nov 11:24AM

  7. From the headlines I was worried that Webber had­ actually been involved in something far more serious.­ The article seems rather over sensationalised given­ that it, and i quote, "..would appear he's­ suffered a fractured leg..." Damn, hold the front­ page.

    This page is starting to read like a series of­ posthumous tributes. He seems like a nice guy, but­ he's not dead you know! Geez. The biggest shame­ about all this is that it happened while he was trying­ to raise money for his charity.

    From Bry, on Sat 22 Nov 11:22AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    BoBBie G. Listen lady, sometimes it is better to say­ very little and let people think you are an idiot­ rather than say too much and have it confirmed. You­ would be well advised to consider this when typing out­ your childlike comments.

    From Kim, on Sat 22 Nov 11:20AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bobbie G . Cyclist deserve the treatment that they get­ from car drivers.. A bike is a childs toy, not a form­ of transport for an adult... Off road they are fine,­ but they should not be allowed on the public highway­ without insurance and tax.

    From greg, on Sat 22 Nov 11:09AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke. I've­ painted his bonnet on his company BMW M5 when he was­ contracted with BMW. What a state that was in! It had­ massive stone chips all down the sides of it. Probably­ from driving sideways around a track! Get well soon­ Mark (mad) Weber.

    From PhillipM, on Sat 22 Nov 11:01AM

  11. get well soon m8 won't be the same without u next­ year on the f1 circuit if u not fit again soon

    From judith.ivey1, on Sat 22 Nov 10:56AM

  12. Hope he is well again soon! Ive always loved him, he is­ so down to earth, not up his own backside like some of­ the others! The kinda guy u cud have a laugh with!

    From claireg_1980, on Sat 22 Nov 10:43AM

  13. Let's hope he recovers soon

    From George, on Sat 22 Nov 10:35AM

  14. Get well soon Mark. I do find it ironic when F1 drivers­ get injured in these random ways. They're probably­ safer in their F1 car than anywhere else!

    From Goldie Looking Berg, on Sat 22 Nov 10:29AM

  15. get well soon,accidents happen.you were prob going­ faster than a red bull car,not used to the speed!!!!­ seriously, hope injuries not bad and you recover­ quickly.

    From sean c, on Sat 22 Nov 10:26AM

  16. Non-life threatening - that's good news.

    From m.e.jenner, on Sat 22 Nov 10:26AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    haha well funny

    From matty1bestwood, on Sat 22 Nov 10:19AM

  18. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery me old Aussie­ mate.

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Sat 22 Nov 10:13AM

  19. Get well Soon dude.. accident could'nt reverse that­ situation..(quickly happens)... Goodluck next year

    From ronaldomontero, on Sat 22 Nov 9:55AM

  20. Get well son Mark.

    From Oliver Tunnah, on Sat 22 Nov 9:49AM
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