Nearly 20 years after his serious accident in the race car Alessandro Zanardi fights back for his life. The former formula 1 driver a serious accident in a traffic accident with his hand bike in Italy.

The 53-year-old leg amputee Italians was immediately flown with a rescue helicopter to a hospital, where the Doctors say "delicate neuro-surgical Operation" was carried out. His condition was "very serious". The Operation continued on Friday night first.

According to the news Agency AP Zanardi suffered a severe head trauma. The newspaper "La Repubblica" quoted Mario Valentini, the head coach of the Italian hand Cycling team, was after a short time at the scene. Accordingly, Zanardi had been there, still conscious, and spoke.

Italy's Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte spoke of courage. "You never gave up and with your exceptional strength, thousands of difficulties to be overcome," tweeted Conte in the evening. "Don't give up. The whole of Italy fights with you.“

The accident happened at a race for Paralympic athletes with hand bikes and bikes in Tuscany. In 2001, he had lost in an accident at the lausitzring in both legs. Nevertheless, the Italians returned in the Motorsport, also won four para-Cycling Gold at the Paralympics.