Sid is probably the most respected person in F1 history. Legends win races and are seen as a hero but very few can have a permanent impact on not only the sport, but also safety in a technology that is used by millions a day
With the Hakkinen crash what’s not spoken enough is that he suffered nerve damage to his face and went lost some hearing permanently in one ear as well after the crash The fact he won 2 WDC after that speaks volumes with just how good a driver he was
If you go back & watch some of Mika's interviews for that point onwards he usually answered a question with a basic 'yes' That wasn't him trying to be funny or dodge the question, he just didn't pick up on everything that was said due to his hearing loss
A non-motorsport comment, if I may. I was lucky enough to have known Sid a little between 93 and 98, when he operated on me a few times. I went from a young man who could often not walk far, to an older man who might have somewhat over-compensated. What Sid did in F1 (and wider motorsport) was amazing; but for every driver he helped, there were probably dozens, or hundreds, of 'ordinary' people such as myself that he helped - whether that was at the London Hospital, the London Independent, America, or wherever. Whether rich or poor, young or old. I understand why he is known and rightly lauded for his F1 work, but he changed so many other lives for the better. He will always be the biggest hero in my life. And none of that is due to his F1 work (though he did have lots of stories). God bless you, Sid.
@@AidanMillward that's commanding respect for sure! However, given his effort in F1: it surel must have been his very own wish to pay for his own travel, must'nt it? Surely Bernie would have offered to pay for him?!
I never knew that senna had specifically asked professor watkins to teach him how to save someone like that. Seriously, the more i learn about senna the more i respect him. Yes he wasn't always the cleanest driver but i don't think there's anyone who can claim that for themselves...
I'll never forget Brundle's crash. I was up at the crack of sparrows to watch it, and on seeing that car fly, I was regretting my decision. Then I saw him get out and run back to get the T car. It was a few years before I heard about his conversation with the Prof. His reply was obviously one of the many reasons the drivers trusted him (particularly when it came to being told they'd need to sit out the next three races. That's not something they'd take so easily from anyone else). He was a real character, tough as old boots as well as being the one hell of a doctor and a gent. Just the right mix drivers need. I suppose we should thank Bernie too. It's all too easy to have a go at him for being so money-minded - and I do - but when it came to getting the right equipment, crew, create the right atmosphere to be safety-minded, he did a lot in a very short space of time. Had he not done it, there's a _very_ good chance we'd have been mourning Mika.
The onboard footage from Häkkinens crash is available on TH-cam. The way his head is flung about it's mindboggeling that he didn’t get irreversible injuries. Not sure I'd recommend watching, it is genuinely sickening as no head should move like that. Brilliant vid as always, a fine selection of not-talked-about-enough accidents which just narrowly had a happy conclusion.
@@AidanMillward It very much does. Are you planning more videos elaborating the influence throughout history of people like Watkins who have not been in the limelight or single events that led to major change like Petersons death? It might be a very niche subject, but it's hard to find good content which makes this information easily available and understandable and as a hardcore nerdgeek long time racing fan I strongly believe it needs to be available in a format that suits the younger generations. And you provide brilliantly.
I remember reading he did not recover full mobility of his facial muscles, like he couldn't smile fully from one side of his face or something like that. Still remarkable he was so little affected as a driver, and gladly so.
People don’t appreciate that even today, an orbital skull fracture is a 50/50 coin toss at survival. Better odds than a Basilar skull fracture, but not by much. I was involved in an accident where a person received an orbital fracture and the agony they experienced was way more difficult to deal with than my own injuries. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you have the likes of Sid and colleagues in your corner.
I'm sure that if Sid were still around, nowadays he'd have sent Brundle to the medical center for a concussion evaluation before letting him back in a car. Back then we didn't know much about racing accidents and concussions and their after effects; now there's a lot more data. And with people like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. coming out and admitting to having long-lasting symptoms from multiple concussions over their careers, even one is now being taken very seriously
@@arthuralford It's very similar in the world of professional wrestling, and from what I understand, in American Football too. It has taken several Jackie Stewart like sports people to push for better awareness for concussion and long term affects.
Great video as usual, but as an Adelaidian I must point out that the hospital you highlighted wasn't built at that time. The old Royal Adelaide Hospital was even closer, next to the Botanic Gardens (bascially carry on straight from the prior corner and you're there)
Aidan, again, this was fantastic. I am old enough to remember the "good old days" when it was possible to buy a Cosworth, a Hewland gearbox and a March chassis and go racing. People also died in frightful numbers and circumstances. Good job. Well done.
Great segment Aidan! The relationship Ayrton had with Dr. Sid was pretty telling of what a caring compassionate guy he was. Imagine if Ayrton had just gone fishing?
Great video as always! You could also do one on the CART/Indycar medical team of Dr. Steve Olvey and Dr. Terry Trammell. There are a huge number of drivers who owe the fact that they still have legs to the brilliance of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Trammell. An example is Rick Mears who had a bad crash at Sanair in 1984 and Quebecois doctors wanted to amputate his feet only for Dr. Trammell to step in and have him brought back to Indianapolis for reconstructive surgery that at the time was unheard of
Barichello was lucky he wasn’t paralysed by the marshals flipping his car over. In the footage his neck flops around like a rag doll. I’m sure Sid had stern words with someone that night
There should be statues of him outside of Race tracks. If I was a driver today I would definitely want to honor him somehow because he really saved a lot of drivers.
Adelaide local here. The hospital that Hakkinen went to was even closer back in 1995. The original Royal Adelaide Hospital was only 200m north of turn 9 of the circuit (the previous corner) and closed down in 2017 when the new hospital opened (which is the one you showed in the video). So it was even more convenient at the time.
I've always thought that the Érik Comas crash at Spa happened on the straight from Raidillon to Les Combes. I never knew it was at Blanchimont until now. I've learned something new like you say at the end of the videos. Keep up the great work Aidan 👍!
It must have been a similar crash to Luci Berti when he tangled with Eddie Irvine there. Remember seeing that live and thinking the worst. Even Irvine spun round and was pulling tyres off him but it took ages to get to him. I suppose that’s better than Comas being bounced across the track again so violently though!
@@paulalexander8874 I was watching that race with my Dad, when Burti went straight on into, then under, the tyres my Dad reflexively shouted 'Oh shit he's dead,' then turned off the TV. We didn't find out he'd survived until the 6 o'clock news that night (remember the world before 24hr live internet news?), it certainly stuck with me. I suspect Comas was also lucky that he bounced. I doubt an early 90s chassis would have held it's shape the way Burti's did if he had gone under the tyres.
Hearing Comas’ story, no matter how old you get, will always tear you up. Props to Sid, helping to save and protect the drivers putting their lives at risk for us
Nice video. Just FYI, the Royal Adelaide Hospital has moved so the pin on the map is lying to you. The hospital used to be much closer during the Grand Prix. It was still on the North side of North Terrace but at the eastern end, before the road starts to curve. It’s basically at the intersection of East Terrace and North Terrace. You can see it coloured a sandy cream colour on the map 7:21
I haven't been to Adelaide in more than 10 years and I was sure that there was no hospital there. Thank you for confirming that there were no hospital there. Royal Adelaide was a 15 minute walk to the crash. Back when I lived in Adelaide there were park lands where the current one is.
Champion Magazine Summer 2016, Erik Comas interview : "The circumstances of my accident date back to the weekend before the Belgian GP. During practice of the 24 hours of Spa, the sedans put themselves on two wheels by climbing the curb at Blanchimont. So the curb is taken off for the race and no one thinks to put it back on afterwards. Friday morning, in free practice, my tires are hot, it should go flat out without problems... Except that JJ Lehto, a few seconds earlier, cut the inside and plastered the track with dirt. There, you can't go flat anymore. I lose grip, cross the sandbox and hit the rail with an angle-speed combination almost identical to that which cost the life of Ayrton Senna two years later. One of the front wheels hits my head and knocks me out. I cross the sandbox again to stop in the middle of the track. My foot stays fully on the accelerator. Senna arrives on the scene and hears my car screaming. He parks and runs towards me to press the kill switch. He saves my life."
Steve Olvey and Trammell from Cart/Indycar. Several great documentaries out on their work: “Yellow, Yellow, Yellow” and “Rapid Response” are phenomenal. There may not be two more noticeable safety personnel in all of racing that have made changes and saved lives like those two.
Video subject suggestion: Philippe Streiff's 1989 F1 pre-season testing crash at Jacarepagua. That track still had appalling medical facilities, and the safety & medical backup at races was still absent from tests. Worst of all appalling treatment by an incompetent doctor (Gerard Saillant) made the situation far worse leaving him with injuries which could have been avoided.
@@LightsOutLow Yep. Saillant was a friend and crony of Jean Todt, who promoted him to no.2 (or 3) at the FIA. They viciously attacked and sued anyone who was even remotely critical of them, especially after Bianchi's crash. But the way they so vindictively went after Streiff after what was iirc quite moderate comments was maybe the most shameful.
How is something significant in F1 not named after Sid? There's gonna be something that can be done to recognise one of the greatest persons in the sports history?
Adelaidian here. The old RAH (Royal Adelaide Hospital) was only 200m north of "The Stag" hotel on turn 9, rather than at the far west of the city centre. Only 500m from the crash site. I was at the Friday practice when Hakkinen had his accident. Local schools could attend free of charge on the thurs or friday and i was in year 3 at the time. The sound of the cars of that era and how fast they navigated turns 7 and 8, i can never forget.
There’s a good story in his book where he snapped his achilles tendon running to aid a stricken Mansell who had crashed in the wet and was absolutely fine, but he elected to not get out of the car as it was raining…his retort went something along the lines of ‘GET OUT OF THE FUCKING CAR, NIGEL…NOW!!!’
Syd was a wonderful person, there will never be another like him. But it's only fair to mention anaethetist Gary Hartstein also - Syd's friend, colleague and chosen successor. After working alongside Syd at the Belgian GP through the '90s, he was recruited to work alongside Syd at all F1 races. The two of them were at every race together for the next 7 years until Syd's retirement, during which time Syd ensured that he would be ready to take over from him and F1 would still be in safe hands once he retired. Gary continued Syd's fine work, not just at the track but also away from the track as part of Max Mosley's quest to research ways to improve safety. Not just in motorsport, but also road cars and in other sports. Under Max the FIA began extensive research on helmets and head injuries, and were going to share the findings so other sports such as cycling and the general public could benefit too. Then at the end of 2012 Gary Hartstein's contract with the FIA was abruptly not renewed without any public explaination by the FIA, causing constanation among and questions from the drivers. [Maybe worthy of a video?] Hartstein later revealed serious allegations that under Jean Todt the FIA were not taking safety as seriously - helmet research was not being shared with other sports as had been promised, meetings of the FIA's safety committee were being treated as some sort of state secret... and much more. There then followed a torrid saga over the next couple of years of the FIA using every dirty trick they could to silence Hartstein, who was raising inconvenient and importent questions about the FIA under Todt. Todt even sent one of his cronies (Gerard Saillant, now no.2 or 3 at the FIA and the doctor who tradgically botched Phillippe Streiff's care and treatment following his 1989 crash) to Liege hospital to lie to the head of the hospital to try and get Hartstein fired from his job there. Fortunately the head of the hospital stood firm and refused to sack Hartstein. Just as Syd stood up to the promoters, circuit owners and others who resisted improving safety for their own selfish reasons, Gary Hartstein did his best to stand up to Jean Todt's corrupt FIA. Sadly few people listened to him, afraid of losing their paddock passes the mainstream motorsport press didn't investigate the issues he raised. If they had, Jules Bianchi likely would not have had his fatal accident in Suzuka as the race should not have gone ahead. FIA F1 Medical Delegate (& friend of Todt) Jean-Charles Piette knowingly and deliberately broke his own longstanding safety rules when he allowed the race to go ahead. formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/todt-saillant-le-denouement-part-1/
@@LightsOutLow I can see why he felt the time was right to move on. He did everything he could and nobody was interested. The number of journalists who are granted passes for races is tiny these days, and if they lose their pass their career's over. The FIA's got a tight stranglehold on how the sport's covered. Asking akward questions is just too risky, just toe the line, drink the Kool Aide and regurgetate the bullshit you're fed into copy for publication. My respect for Gary Hartstein is just as high as it is for Syd. What he tried to do for safety in the sport, his crusade, was just as important and valuable as what Syd did. Sadly the greedy trolls don't own the circuits now, they own the FIA. He's got a very senior post at a major hospital in the UAE now, and I'm sure he's still doing great work there. Keep the faith @LightsOutLow and spread the word, that's all we can do. If may be futile, but it's a matter of principle.
With the hakkinen crash the royal Adelaide hospital was the time basically next to the track just above stag corner, wasn’t until about 2015 it was moved to where the pin was on the image so in reality it would have been around a half mile away from the accident, keep it up Aiden
assuming people have seen 1 The Film (narrated by Michael Fassbender), where there is the touching scene Prof Sid tears up and talks about the drivers as "his boys".
Re: Hakkinen's crash ... the site you have listed as the hospital is the New Royal Adelaide Hospital, which opened in 2017. The old site was at -34.92056640585549, 138.609094232144, less than one kilometre from the accident site.
At 2:54 there a picture of a Ligier in the Manoir de l’Automobile in Lohéac, France. If you’ve never been, make the trip, it’s one of the best museums I’ve ever been to, a very eclectic mix of vintage cars, Rallycross, a room full of F1 cars, various engines, a huge room full of models and even offshore powerboats!
Something similar to this on Indycar/CART Dr Steve Olvey, and even NASCAR's Jerry punch could show off some really cool stories to people. Both those guys saved multiple lives.
Aidan ... I'm from Adelaide and I have to correct you on your map of where the hospital is. The location you showed is 100% correct, for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital that opened in 2017. The old Royal Adelaide Hospital that Mika Häkkinen was taken to was literally located at the top of the road beyond what was Stag Turn (that sand coloured area is what was the old hospital site).
Something to think about concerning the " people don't die often in auto racing anymore " This can lead to the lack of safety equipment in lower classes because " people don't die often in auto racing anymore "
Not to flag wave for IndyCar/CART, but this also merits an explanation of why it took so long for F1 to do what the other series had been doing for years, having standardized emergency crews that travelled with the series. It was IndyCar/CART's policy to guarantee having a trained crew and standard equipment (e.g. firefighting equipment, backboard, etc.) on the scene of a crash within 30 seconds. The delays in tending to Webber and Alonso at Brazil 2003 was appalling to longtime IndyCar/CART viewers.
My question is who had it first, CART or NHRA? I've heard both sides had it first. I'd love a deep dive into both the NHRA's Safety Safari and the CART medical team? IIRC Lon wanted each member of the CART safety team to have a background in fire or rescue as well, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I know Lon was a firefighter by profession though
Actually, back in 1995, the Royal Adelaide Hospital was not on the west side of the city, as per Google Maps. Back then it on the east side of the city, just north of the Stag Hotel corner. That patch of dirt in Google Maps just north of that corner is where it was recently demolished. So the hospital was only 700m away.
I don’t know why, but there’s just something about the way Aidan says tldr that always makes me think he saying trdr instead. And then I rewind it and hear that my ears were playing tricks on me. This only ever happens when I hear Aidan say it, and I’ve no idea why.
One thing I feel blessed with in my life was having the opportunity to train first aiders which actually kicked off with motorcyclists and accident management and was able to bring that experience into standard first aid. First company I worked for I kept nagging them to put in for government funding to actually run first aid motorcycles around biking hot spots in regional areas specifically so there is someone there specifically trained where an ambulance or medevac chopper is going to be a good hour or two distant. Sadly never happened, was that companies bosses prime position to really look after the community she was looking after and earn a decent coin. We have some of the world's best riding roads in Victoria, AUS.
Two things *every* Aussie kid should know, swimming and first aid. I started the first when I was 3 and the second when I was 12. I'm fucking 43 now and both are second nature.
Erik was top drawer and deserved better success but the Spa crash and then being let out of the pits and arriving at full steam at Senna’s crash site seemed to take away his upward trajectory to a major team.
Not a huge thing, but the hospital in Adelaide was even closer than pictured at the time. The location used is the new location, the old hospital was North East, or the top right corner of the CBD image used, as opposed to the top left
Slightly unrelated video suggestion but a look at the 2017 Le Mans 24hrs being led by an LMP2 would be interesting. (Yes I know I’ve missed the timing with Le Mans happening a few weeks ago)
Here is a feedback to Adrian Millward in relation to the Mika Hackinen 1995 Australian F1GP crash. It wasn’t a mile and a half to the closest hospital it was closer to 600 meters. In 1995, the Royal Adelaide Hospital was still at the east end of North Tce, next to the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. About 10 years ago the Royal Adelaide Hospital was moved to its current location. I know this because I am from Adelaide, Australia. Sorry if I sound all nick picky, but I am not. I know Adrian is not a local to Adelaide, for that he has a free pass for this video, but at the same time I hope that Adrian understand that this comment is in the spirit of being helpful from someone that enjoys his content rather than being a vindictive, haha your wrong on this one niche very specific factoid, kinda thing. Keep up the good work.
I thought Häkkinen actually had a Cricothyrotomy. Same sort of idea but a slightly different place and simpler to perform in emergencies with less complications. Either way though its a level of medical intervention unimaginable in the days when Jackie Stewart would find himself taking a mystery tour of Belgium, involving a group of nuns, attempting to get him to a proper hospital.
I know you're not a bike fan, but on the back of your tt vid and your sid watkins vid you should look into dr john hinds, the flying doctor. How do you cater to madness?
Don’t want to diminish Prof Syd’s work and legacy but I think it’s stretch to say he saved Mika’s life … he wasn’t there and left the 2 docs that did save his life to carry on. In don’t think it’s fair to those 2 docs to give the glory to Syd. And I’m sure Syd wouldn’t want to take any of their well deserved praise. It would have been better to call the article ‘Two F1 drivers saved by Syd Watkins’ . Please, I’m in no way slagging of the professor.
@@AidanMillward Yup and when he had the brake failure in Australia then the non start at Brazil when he covered his head as all the cars went by you can tell he felt the fear of being in the car again in 2001 In hindsight not surprising he called a sabbatical in 2001 hopefully he ends the sabbatical soon!
![[Live] : ONE 169 วันนี้!! "อนาโตลี vs อูมาร์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3YZVWuFJg/mqdefault.jpg)
Sid is probably the most respected person in F1 history.
Legends win races and are seen as a hero but very few can have a permanent impact on not only the sport, but also safety in a technology that is used by millions a day
Here here.
Given that even Ecclestone shut his trap and obeyed when he talked, that's something that nobody else could ever do.
With the Hakkinen crash what’s not spoken enough is that he suffered nerve damage to his face and went lost some hearing permanently in one ear as well after the crash
The fact he won 2 WDC after that speaks volumes with just how good a driver he was
If you go back & watch some of Mika's interviews for that point onwards he usually answered a question with a basic 'yes'
That wasn't him trying to be funny or dodge the question, he just didn't pick up on everything that was said due to his hearing loss
A non-motorsport comment, if I may. I was lucky enough to have known Sid a little between 93 and 98, when he operated on me a few times. I went from a young man who could often not walk far, to an older man who might have somewhat over-compensated.
What Sid did in F1 (and wider motorsport) was amazing; but for every driver he helped, there were probably dozens, or hundreds, of 'ordinary' people such as myself that he helped - whether that was at the London Hospital, the London Independent, America, or wherever. Whether rich or poor, young or old. I understand why he is known and rightly lauded for his F1 work, but he changed so many other lives for the better.
He will always be the biggest hero in my life. And none of that is due to his F1 work (though he did have lots of stories). God bless you, Sid.
Oh, I never knew he kept on doing his "normal" doctor job once he got involved in F1. Thank you for that story!
@@MaxScheibenpflug he carried on working. He paid his own travel and would work during the week. Guy was a u it.
@@AidanMillward that's commanding respect for sure! However, given his effort in F1: it surel must have been his very own wish to pay for his own travel, must'nt it? Surely Bernie would have offered to pay for him?!
He was super professional - guys on site did their best, and he had the self-control to recognise that and not interfere
I never knew that senna had specifically asked professor watkins to teach him how to save someone like that. Seriously, the more i learn about senna the more i respect him. Yes he wasn't always the cleanest driver but i don't think there's anyone who can claim that for themselves...
I do really appreciate how Senna ruthlessly embraced the sport, but never lost his humanity like a lot of drivers seem to do.
@@RoryStarr you found the perfect words for what i wanted to say.
@@RoryStarrThere is no humanity in ruthlessness. Sorry.
Great video, Aidan. Syd may be gone, but he should never be forgotten by F1 fans
The same as Charlie Whiting. Both trail blazers.
@@JohnSmithShields I 100% agree with you, John
I'll never forget Brundle's crash. I was up at the crack of sparrows to watch it, and on seeing that car fly, I was regretting my decision. Then I saw him get out and run back to get the T car. It was a few years before I heard about his conversation with the Prof. His reply was obviously one of the many reasons the drivers trusted him (particularly when it came to being told they'd need to sit out the next three races. That's not something they'd take so easily from anyone else). He was a real character, tough as old boots as well as being the one hell of a doctor and a gent. Just the right mix drivers need.
I suppose we should thank Bernie too. It's all too easy to have a go at him for being so money-minded - and I do - but when it came to getting the right equipment, crew, create the right atmosphere to be safety-minded, he did a lot in a very short space of time. Had he not done it, there's a _very_ good chance we'd have been mourning Mika.
Sid's Biography is a great read, one of F1's true VIP's
The onboard footage from Häkkinens crash is available on TH-cam. The way his head is flung about it's mindboggeling that he didn’t get irreversible injuries. Not sure I'd recommend watching, it is genuinely sickening as no head should move like that.
Brilliant vid as always, a fine selection of not-talked-about-enough accidents which just narrowly had a happy conclusion.
Hurts your neck just watching
@@AidanMillward It very much does. Are you planning more videos elaborating the influence throughout history of people like Watkins who have not been in the limelight or single events that led to major change like Petersons death? It might be a very niche subject, but it's hard to find good content which makes this information easily available and understandable and as a hardcore nerdgeek long time racing fan I strongly believe it needs to be available in a format that suits the younger generations. And you provide brilliantly.
I remember reading he did not recover full mobility of his facial muscles, like he couldn't smile fully from one side of his face or something like that. Still remarkable he was so little affected as a driver, and gladly so.
People don’t appreciate that even today, an orbital skull fracture is a 50/50 coin toss at survival. Better odds than a Basilar skull fracture, but not by much. I was involved in an accident where a person received an orbital fracture and the agony they experienced was way more difficult to deal with than my own injuries. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you have the likes of Sid and colleagues in your corner.
Sure I remember Brundle saying that after his crash and Sid giving the all clear, he neglected to mention he was seeing double. ha ha
I'm sure that if Sid were still around, nowadays he'd have sent Brundle to the medical center for a concussion evaluation before letting him back in a car. Back then we didn't know much about racing accidents and concussions and their after effects; now there's a lot more data. And with people like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. coming out and admitting to having long-lasting symptoms from multiple concussions over their careers, even one is now being taken very seriously
I also recall that he remembered the date because it was his Dad's birthday
@@arthuralford It's very similar in the world of professional wrestling, and from what I understand, in American Football too. It has taken several Jackie Stewart like sports people to push for better awareness for concussion and long term affects.
How is he not at 100k subs!?!?! People he’s awesome! Great story telling funny tasteful well researched info etc
Great video as usual, but as an Adelaidian I must point out that the hospital you highlighted wasn't built at that time.
The old Royal Adelaide Hospital was even closer, next to the Botanic Gardens (bascially carry on straight from the prior corner and you're there)
As with the above post. Thanks again for confirming that there was no hospital where Aidian pointed out
Aidan, again, this was fantastic. I am old enough to remember the "good old days" when it was possible to buy a Cosworth, a Hewland gearbox and a March chassis and go racing. People also died in frightful numbers and circumstances. Good job. Well done.
Comas driving to Senna's crash site to try and help him is one of the most heartbreaking things about Imola 1994.
Yeah, and it was misunderstood. First people thought he was a complete bellend for driving into that scene full tilt. They didn’t understand.
Great segment Aidan! The relationship Ayrton had with Dr. Sid was pretty telling of what a caring compassionate guy he was. Imagine if Ayrton had just gone fishing?
I know. Sid would have taken him😢
@@lewiskemp5893...he flat out asked Senna to not race that weekend and go salmon fishing instead. Sid mentioned it in one of his books
@@philgiglio7922 I know. That is what makes it even worse.
SID knew
Great video as always! You could also do one on the CART/Indycar medical team of Dr. Steve Olvey and Dr. Terry Trammell. There are a huge number of drivers who owe the fact that they still have legs to the brilliance of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Trammell. An example is Rick Mears who had a bad crash at Sanair in 1984 and Quebecois doctors wanted to amputate his feet only for Dr. Trammell to step in and have him brought back to Indianapolis for reconstructive surgery that at the time was unheard of
Alex Zanardi does for sure. These two guys are the American version of Sid.
Agreed. That CART safety team was off the scale good.
Barichello was lucky he wasn’t paralysed by the marshals flipping his car over. In the footage his neck flops around like a rag doll. I’m sure Sid had stern words with someone that night
Noticed that in video of the aftermath
Sid Watkins almost saved Sennas life, telling a nervous Senna to retire immediately the day before he died.
There should be statues of him outside of Race tracks. If I was a driver today I would definitely want to honor him somehow because he really saved a lot of drivers.
Great comment, but I would add that due to his work he continues to save the lives beyond his own death.
I think he should get a corner or something named after him around the world
One of the greatest people ever in motorsports
Adelaide local here. The hospital that Hakkinen went to was even closer back in 1995. The original Royal Adelaide Hospital was only 200m north of turn 9 of the circuit (the previous corner) and closed down in 2017 when the new hospital opened (which is the one you showed in the video). So it was even more convenient at the time.
Thought another local would beat me to it. Cheers.
@Aidan Millward Thanks for doing this, exactly what I meant in my comment on the original video. Professor Sid was, literally, a lifesaver.
A seriously under appreciated guy in modern F1. They never talk about him when big accidents happen but this guy did so much to advance the sport.
According to Brundle running on the pavement was the hardest part of that accident since he was still having ankle trouble from his Dallas 1984 crash
I've always thought that the Érik Comas crash at Spa happened on the straight from Raidillon to Les Combes. I never knew it was at Blanchimont until now. I've learned something new like you say at the end of the videos. Keep up the great work Aidan 👍!
It must have been a similar crash to Luci Berti when he tangled with Eddie Irvine there. Remember seeing that live and thinking the worst. Even Irvine spun round and was pulling tyres off him but it took ages to get to him. I suppose that’s better than Comas being bounced across the track again so violently though!
@@paulalexander8874 I was watching that race with my Dad, when Burti went straight on into, then under, the tyres my Dad reflexively shouted 'Oh shit he's dead,' then turned off the TV. We didn't find out he'd survived until the 6 o'clock news that night (remember the world before 24hr live internet news?), it certainly stuck with me. I suspect Comas was also lucky that he bounced. I doubt an early 90s chassis would have held it's shape the way Burti's did if he had gone under the tyres.
Prof Watkins’ book Life at the Limit is a must read for all fans of motor racing and anyone with an interest in pre-hospital care.
Where can we find the book, please ?
@@MahmoudHAhmad... Amazon is where I got my copy some years back
Hearing Comas’ story, no matter how old you get, will always tear you up. Props to Sid, helping to save and protect the drivers putting their lives at risk for us
Nice video. Just FYI, the Royal Adelaide Hospital has moved so the pin on the map is lying to you. The hospital used to be much closer during the Grand Prix. It was still on the North side of North Terrace but at the eastern end, before the road starts to curve. It’s basically at the intersection of East Terrace and North Terrace. You can see it coloured a sandy cream colour on the map 7:21
I haven't been to Adelaide in more than 10 years and I was sure that there was no hospital there.
Thank you for confirming that there were no hospital there.
Royal Adelaide was a 15 minute walk to the crash.
Back when I lived in Adelaide there were park lands where the current one is.
You should make a video about Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell. Those two were the pioneers of safety measures in so many ways!
Champion Magazine Summer 2016, Erik Comas interview :
"The circumstances of my accident date back to the weekend before the Belgian GP. During practice of the 24 hours of Spa, the sedans put themselves on two wheels by climbing the curb at Blanchimont. So the curb is taken off for the race and no one thinks to put it back on afterwards.
Friday morning, in free practice, my tires are hot, it should go flat out without problems... Except that JJ Lehto, a few seconds earlier, cut the inside and plastered the track with dirt. There, you can't go flat anymore. I lose grip, cross the sandbox and hit the rail with an angle-speed combination almost identical to that which cost the life of Ayrton Senna two years later.
One of the front wheels hits my head and knocks me out. I cross the sandbox again to stop in the middle of the track. My foot stays fully on the accelerator. Senna arrives on the scene and hears my car screaming. He parks and runs towards me to press the kill switch.
He saves my life."
Lost it on the dirt. Insane.
Steve Olvey and Trammell from Cart/Indycar. Several great documentaries out on their work: “Yellow, Yellow, Yellow” and “Rapid Response” are phenomenal. There may not be two more noticeable safety personnel in all of racing that have made changes and saved lives like those two.
Alex zanardi is alive because of their quick response
Video subject suggestion: Philippe Streiff's 1989 F1 pre-season testing crash at Jacarepagua. That track still had appalling medical facilities, and the safety & medical backup at races was still absent from tests. Worst of all appalling treatment by an incompetent doctor (Gerard Saillant) made the situation far worse leaving him with injuries which could have been avoided.
the same Gerard Saillant who later threatened to sue him in 2014?
@@LightsOutLow Yep. Saillant was a friend and crony of Jean Todt, who promoted him to no.2 (or 3) at the FIA. They viciously attacked and sued anyone who was even remotely critical of them, especially after Bianchi's crash. But the way they so vindictively went after Streiff after what was iirc quite moderate comments was maybe the most shameful.
How is something significant in F1 not named after Sid? There's gonna be something that can be done to recognise one of the greatest persons in the sports history?
Adelaidian here.
The old RAH (Royal Adelaide Hospital) was only 200m north of "The Stag" hotel on turn 9, rather than at the far west of the city centre. Only 500m from the crash site. I was at the Friday practice when Hakkinen had his accident. Local schools could attend free of charge on the thurs or friday and i was in year 3 at the time.
The sound of the cars of that era and how fast they navigated turns 7 and 8, i can never forget.
Didn't know about those details on Mikas shunt. Well researched!
There’s a good story in his book where he snapped his achilles tendon running to aid a stricken Mansell who had crashed in the wet and was absolutely fine, but he elected to not get out of the car as it was raining…his retort went something along the lines of ‘GET OUT OF THE FUCKING CAR, NIGEL…NOW!!!’
Blood turning grey! I wasn't aware of that part. It's amazing to me he didn't die even with the doctors there now that I know that part.
I remember the first time I heard about Hakkinen’s crash; I was very light headed afterwards.
Fun fact: Sid Watkins has a building named after him at The Walton Centre, near Liverpool. It deals with complex rehabilitation
Syd was a wonderful person, there will never be another like him. But it's only fair to mention anaethetist Gary Hartstein also - Syd's friend, colleague and chosen successor. After working alongside Syd at the Belgian GP through the '90s, he was recruited to work alongside Syd at all F1 races. The two of them were at every race together for the next 7 years until Syd's retirement, during which time Syd ensured that he would be ready to take over from him and F1 would still be in safe hands once he retired. Gary continued Syd's fine work, not just at the track but also away from the track as part of Max Mosley's quest to research ways to improve safety. Not just in motorsport, but also road cars and in other sports. Under Max the FIA began extensive research on helmets and head injuries, and were going to share the findings so other sports such as cycling and the general public could benefit too.
Then at the end of 2012 Gary Hartstein's contract with the FIA was abruptly not renewed without any public explaination by the FIA, causing constanation among and questions from the drivers. [Maybe worthy of a video?]
Hartstein later revealed serious allegations that under Jean Todt the FIA were not taking safety as seriously - helmet research was not being shared with other sports as had been promised, meetings of the FIA's safety committee were being treated as some sort of state secret... and much more.
There then followed a torrid saga over the next couple of years of the FIA using every dirty trick they could to silence Hartstein, who was raising inconvenient and importent questions about the FIA under Todt. Todt even sent one of his cronies (Gerard Saillant, now no.2 or 3 at the FIA and the doctor who tradgically botched Phillippe Streiff's care and treatment following his 1989 crash) to Liege hospital to lie to the head of the hospital to try and get Hartstein fired from his job there. Fortunately the head of the hospital stood firm and refused to sack Hartstein.
Just as Syd stood up to the promoters, circuit owners and others who resisted improving safety for their own selfish reasons, Gary Hartstein did his best to stand up to Jean Todt's corrupt FIA. Sadly few people listened to him, afraid of losing their paddock passes the mainstream motorsport press didn't investigate the issues he raised. If they had, Jules Bianchi likely would not have had his fatal accident in Suzuka as the race should not have gone ahead. FIA F1 Medical Delegate (& friend of Todt) Jean-Charles Piette knowingly and deliberately broke his own longstanding safety rules when he allowed the race to go ahead.
formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/todt-saillant-le-denouement-part-1/
pity his blog has been quiet for years now.
@@LightsOutLow I can see why he felt the time was right to move on. He did everything he could and nobody was interested. The number of journalists who are granted passes for races is tiny these days, and if they lose their pass their career's over. The FIA's got a tight stranglehold on how the sport's covered. Asking akward questions is just too risky, just toe the line, drink the Kool Aide and regurgetate the bullshit you're fed into copy for publication.
My respect for Gary Hartstein is just as high as it is for Syd. What he tried to do for safety in the sport, his crusade, was just as important and valuable as what Syd did. Sadly the greedy trolls don't own the circuits now, they own the FIA.
He's got a very senior post at a major hospital in the UAE now, and I'm sure he's still doing great work there.
Keep the faith @LightsOutLow and spread the word, that's all we can do. If may be futile, but it's a matter of principle.
@@ibex485 very nicely put!
Good stuff. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
With the hakkinen crash the royal Adelaide hospital was the time basically next to the track just above stag corner, wasn’t until about 2015 it was moved to where the pin was on the image so in reality it would have been around a half mile away from the accident, keep it up Aiden
Sid's book is an excellent read - I highly recommend it.
thanks for another one mate I love your production style
What a brilliant video Aidan!
Great story! Compelling narrative par usual. Thanks!
assuming people have seen 1 The Film (narrated by Michael Fassbender), where there is the touching scene Prof Sid tears up and talks about the drivers as "his boys".
Excelent video, this would make a superb mini sereis
Re: Hakkinen's crash ... the site you have listed as the hospital is the New Royal Adelaide Hospital, which opened in 2017. The old site was at -34.92056640585549, 138.609094232144, less than one kilometre from the accident site.
Another great video Aiden!
At 2:54 there a picture of a Ligier in the Manoir de l’Automobile in Lohéac, France.
If you’ve never been, make the trip, it’s one of the best museums I’ve ever been to, a very eclectic mix of vintage cars, Rallycross, a room full of F1 cars, various engines, a huge room full of models and even offshore powerboats!
Thank you very much.
The answer to any “MEDIC!” call
Something similar to this on Indycar/CART Dr Steve Olvey, and even NASCAR's Jerry punch could show off some really cool stories to people. Both those guys saved multiple lives.
Aidan ... I'm from Adelaide and I have to correct you on your map of where the hospital is.
The location you showed is 100% correct, for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital that opened in 2017. The old Royal Adelaide Hospital that Mika Häkkinen was taken to was literally located at the top of the road beyond what was Stag Turn (that sand coloured area is what was the old hospital site).
Something to think about concerning the " people don't die often in auto racing anymore " This can lead to the lack of safety equipment in lower classes because " people don't die often in auto racing anymore "
I hadn’t heard about Irvine being in the chicane grandstand while Rubens had his shunt. 😮
Sid was as much a game changer as Stewart, Chapman and Newey.
If its still on TH-cam look for a lecture by the flying doctor who used to follow road racers around. He did a great lecture.
Not to flag wave for IndyCar/CART, but this also merits an explanation of why it took so long for F1 to do what the other series had been doing for years, having standardized emergency crews that travelled with the series. It was IndyCar/CART's policy to guarantee having a trained crew and standard equipment (e.g. firefighting equipment, backboard, etc.) on the scene of a crash within 30 seconds. The delays in tending to Webber and Alonso at Brazil 2003 was appalling to longtime IndyCar/CART viewers.
My question is who had it first, CART or NHRA? I've heard both sides had it first. I'd love a deep dive into both the NHRA's Safety Safari and the CART medical team?
IIRC Lon wanted each member of the CART safety team to have a background in fire or rescue as well, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I know Lon was a firefighter by profession though
8:46
I honestly never knew Ruben's arm flailed out of the car like that before seing this image !
I love this guy. Wish he could have helped Senna
Actually, back in 1995, the Royal Adelaide Hospital was not on the west side of the city, as per Google Maps. Back then it on the east side of the city, just north of the Stag Hotel corner. That patch of dirt in Google Maps just north of that corner is where it was recently demolished. So the hospital was only 700m away.
Hero Watkins is hope heavens been good to him
I don’t know why, but there’s just something about the way Aidan says tldr that always makes me think he saying trdr instead. And then I rewind it and hear that my ears were playing tricks on me.
This only ever happens when I hear Aidan say it, and I’ve no idea why.
One thing I feel blessed with in my life was having the opportunity to train first aiders which actually kicked off with motorcyclists and accident management and was able to bring that experience into standard first aid.
First company I worked for I kept nagging them to put in for government funding to actually run first aid motorcycles around biking hot spots in regional areas specifically so there is someone there specifically trained where an ambulance or medevac chopper is going to be a good hour or two distant.
Sadly never happened, was that companies bosses prime position to really look after the community she was looking after and earn a decent coin.
We have some of the world's best riding roads in Victoria, AUS.
Two things *every* Aussie kid should know, swimming and first aid. I started the first when I was 3 and the second when I was 12. I'm fucking 43 now and both are second nature.
I need to pick up his second book. His first one was super interesting.
am i right in thinking it was Comas who dove out of the pitlane during Senna's fatal redflag and saw the accident site at the last second.
Yeah. He rode with Sid back to the pits holding sennas helmet.
@@AidanMillward i thought so. what an odd coincidence on that horrible day
Erik was top drawer and deserved better success but the Spa crash and then being let out of the pits and arriving at full steam at Senna’s crash site seemed to take away his upward trajectory to a major team.
3:54 well, 5 really. Also the crash at the start, injuring spectators, and Michael Alberto’s loose wheel injuring mechanics in the pit lane
Not a huge thing, but the hospital in Adelaide was even closer than pictured at the time. The location used is the new location, the old hospital was North East, or the top right corner of the CBD image used, as opposed to the top left
Slightly unrelated video suggestion but a look at the 2017 Le Mans 24hrs being led by an LMP2 would be interesting. (Yes I know I’ve missed the timing with Le Mans happening a few weeks ago)
Shout out to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Here is a feedback to Adrian Millward in relation to the Mika Hackinen 1995 Australian F1GP crash. It wasn’t a mile and a half to the closest hospital it was closer to 600 meters. In 1995, the Royal Adelaide Hospital was still at the east end of North Tce, next to the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. About 10 years ago the Royal Adelaide Hospital was moved to its current location. I know this because I am from Adelaide, Australia. Sorry if I sound all nick picky, but I am not. I know Adrian is not a local to Adelaide, for that he has a free pass for this video, but at the same time I hope that Adrian understand that this comment is in the spirit of being helpful from someone that enjoys his content rather than being a vindictive, haha your wrong on this one niche very specific factoid, kinda thing.
Keep up the good work.
Who’s Adrian?
@@AidanMillward Sorry, I mean you. I typed it out on my phone, and it must have changed it over to that by mistake.
I thought Häkkinen actually had a Cricothyrotomy. Same sort of idea but a slightly different place and simpler to perform in emergencies with less complications. Either way though its a level of medical intervention unimaginable in the days when Jackie Stewart would find himself taking a mystery tour of Belgium, involving a group of nuns, attempting to get him to a proper hospital.
Or as he related later lying on a concrete floor with cigarette butts all over the place
I know you're not a bike fan, but on the back of your tt vid and your sid watkins vid you should look into dr john hinds, the flying doctor. How do you cater to madness?
Never heard about Hakkinen crash
How ironic Senna helped a driver by holding his head a year lately he’d suffer the same fate but didn’t survive
And two years before he’d intentionally fired a driver off the road for a championship cos “muh pole on the wrong side”
If only Senna had gone fishing with Sid Watkins instead.........
Don’t want to diminish Prof Syd’s work and legacy but I think it’s stretch to say he saved Mika’s life … he wasn’t there and left the 2 docs that did save his life to carry on.
In don’t think it’s fair to those 2 docs to give the glory to Syd. And I’m sure Syd wouldn’t want to take any of their well deserved praise.
It would have been better to call the article ‘Two F1 drivers saved by Syd Watkins’ .
Please, I’m in no way slagging of the professor.
Read Sid's book. Highly recommended
I never realized that Hakinen had such a big accident.
Watch the onboard. It’s amazing how his neck wasn’t snapped.
Yup and IIRC he lost some hearing in one ear permanently after that and some eye movement in another as he suffered nerve damage
@@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1 yeah you could see by 2000 it had caught up with him.
@@AidanMillward Yup and when he had the brake failure in Australia then the non start at Brazil when he covered his head as all the cars went by you can tell he felt the fear of being in the car again in 2001
In hindsight not surprising he called a sabbatical in 2001 hopefully he ends the sabbatical soon!
@@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1 the sabbatical meme doesn’t really work since in 02 he said he was full on retiring.
I thought it was Derek Warwick that Senna had helped save at spa not Erik Comas.
this didnt age well