Formula One: Marshal Tragically Loses Life in Canadian Grand Prix

Jun 10, 2013 01:45 AM EDT
Formula One
Formula One cars in action during the Canadian Grand Prix, June 9"

 

Sebastian Vettel's dominant victory at the Canadian GP was marred by an unfortunate and deeply tragic death of a marshal, who inadvertently got in the way of a crane cleaning up Esteban Gutierrez's crashed Sauber.

Vettel picked up his first ever win in Montreal with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes coming in second and third.

However, the win was tempered after the FIA confirmed a marshal had lost his life in a tragic accident.

"The FIA is sad to announce the death of a Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada circuit worker," the FIA said in a statement.

"The worker, a member of the Automobile Club de l'Ile Notre Dame, was the victim of an unfortunate accident that occurred at the end of this afternoon's Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada.

"The worker was helping to recover a car which had stopped during the race. The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up.

"As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle.

"The worker was transported via helicopter to Sacre-Coeur Hospital where he was treated. Unfortunately, the worker succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

"The FIA, l'Automobile Club de l'Ile Notre-Dame and the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada want to communicate their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The identity of the worker cannot be revealed at this time."

He is the third marshal to be killed since 2000, but first in 12 years. The first was Paolo Ghislimberti, who passed away at the Italian Grand Prix in 2000 after being hit by a wheel which flew at him following a first-lap accident.

In 2001 at the Australian GP, Graham Beveridge also died after being struck by a wheel following a collision between Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher.

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