Possum Bourne Passed Away Peacefully 12am 4/30 NZ time....

[Adrian128]

New Zealand rally legend Possum Bourne is in critical condition after crashing today.

I wish him a speedy recovery and I pray for him and his family.

More details here

[Opie]

That sucks. I wish him a quick recovery.

[Subie Gal]

oh no.

not sure what to say... just hope he pulls through



jamie

[akuhner]

It doesn't say anything about where or how he crashed, I can't even tell if it happened in the rally - am I reading the wrong article? The one I read had more about his history than about any crash.

Alex

edit - this one has more
http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/v...tentId=1080642
that really sucks...

[Subie Gal]

try this...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydispl...toryID=3401785

Jamie

[Gravel Spray]

Bummer, this guy has been rallying Subarus longer than anyone, including Prodrive.



Cool guy, bitchin products.


Hope he pulls through.


pete

[ANZAC_1915]

This sounds like a freak accident. He collided head on with the vehicle that was the last in line?!?!

I hope he pulls though.

[liberty]

I have watched many rallies live here in Australia. No one is as spectacular to watch or has their car so far at the limit as Possum

He is the master and the gentleman in the South Pacific

Good luck Possum, make sure this event is the one you win, we are all behind you.

[ANZAC_1915]

Possum Bourne condition update - Saturday evening

Subaru Rally Team Australia driver Possum Bourne is out of the operating theatreat Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand, where he is now listed in a serious but stablecondition after leg and head injuries sustained in a traffic accident yesterday.

The operation was to surgically stabilise his broken legs with pins, which wassuccessful.

He is now resting. Part of the ongoing treatment is to keep him asleep in a druginduced coma.

Possum's wife Peggy and his family remain at his side.
Peggy said: "Every day he remains stable is important. But we're through the firstday and we've just got to take it day-by-day. The kids and I, and all the family, arejust so grateful for the level of support we've all received at this very difficult time.

"Everybody who has been involved with Possum has been wonderful, from the crewon site at the accident, to the air ambulance team who got him to Dunedin and the staffat the Dunedin Hospital."

The accident occurred near Queenstown, on New Zealand's south island.

[Danno]

Originally posted by Glenn Wallace
This sounds like a freak accident. He collided head on with the vehicle that was the last in line?!?!

I thought it sounded odd, but after rereading the story I got the impression that Possum was headed down the hill and the caravan was headed up.

[Jim2]

Originally posted by Danno
I thought it sounded odd, but after rereading the story I got the impression that Possum was headed down the hill and the caravan was headed up.

I got back Monday from New Zealand last Monday and my host in Auckland replied to my query with the following:

"Yes, Possum Bourne was in a head-on on [a not so] Good Friday. Seems he was coming downhill and a convoy of other competitors was heading uphill as part of the "pre race recce".

Somehow, Possums (4WD?) "station wagon" (probably a Subaru given he drives for Subaru in the WRC rallies) and a Jeep Cherokee in the uphill convoy hit each other.

Theory seems to be that one of the 2 drivers crossed the "centre line" of the (wide!) gravel road. Dust is thought to pay a part, as is the fact that there was a "small hill" over which Possum drove as he was coming downhill - so he was in-effect coming over the hill blind, due to dust and topography.

They said both cars were certainly not exceeding more than 35 mph [60kph] each. Still the combined "speed" was 120kph - 70mph.

Unfortunately, the Jeep [being a ****-box SUV] imparted most of its energy into the "car" and Possum [and the car he was in] got mangled very,very badly.

The Jeep driver only got a broken leg [and the Jeep rolled over - surprise, surprise!]

Possum got severe head injuries and 2 broken legs and he is in a critical condition in hospital - if he recovers/lives [and thats not a given right now], he may never drive again.

It took over 1 hour to get him out of the car due to the mangled up nature of the wreck.

The TV carried a comment that it appeared that the Jeep hit Possums car in the "side" [near the drivers door] and that Possum had taken evasive action to avoid a head on - maybe if he had not done this he'd be ok today and let the front of his car hit the Jeep full-on.

So I think the Jeep driver pulled out to overtake/see the road ahead due to dust - and went smack into Possums cars side."

This is consistent with what is being said in the NZ media -- also that Bourne is being kept in an induced coma (pretty common strategy I think while they hope/wait for swelling to go down).

[Adrian128]

Somewhat related to this tragedy, it's great that SRTA has decided to compete.

SRTA to compete in Canberra

Subaru Rally Team Australia has confirmed it will run two cars at the Subaru Rally of Canberra next weekend (25-27 April).

This follows the news of SRTA driver and seven-time Australian Rally Champion Possum Bourne’s serious accident near Queenstown, New Zealand, last Friday.

Nick Senior, General Manager Subaru Australia, who also manages the rally programme said: "Possum’s family and the team want to win it for him and be there in support of him."

The rally starts on Friday lunchtime, April 25.

I'll be there from the start and all throughout the rally, and the 2003 WRX Festival.

[Danno]

Originally posted by Jim2
Possums (4WD?) "station wagon" (probably a Subaru

One of the news stories said Possum was in a Forester.

[SuperRuWRX]

Has anyone heard how he is doing?. Good news please.

[OnTheGas]

http://www.possumpwrc.com/ReadyUpdate/daily.asp?id=62

Head/brain injuries are always a wild card... and can sometimes be very sad.

[Subie Gal]

i hate to hear that he may never drive again

damn it.. just makes me really, really sad.

i hope he somehow makes a full recovery...

Jamie www.subiegalracing.com

[Adrian128]

Today is a sad, sad day for rally fans.

NZ Herald Story
Apparently his chances of survival are "virtually nil". I apologize for posting earlier that he had died. News reports from NZ and here in Australia have been somewhat vague.

[Opie]

[liberty]

For the first time in his life, looks like Possum is going to reach the finish line long before any of us want him to.

To Peggy and the greater family, our thoughts are with them at this time

[OnTheGas]

That news hurts... I'm sad.

[Cold kiwi]

It is really sad to read this as a New Zealander living overseas. He is such a great man, huge ambassador for Subaru. On the few occasions I have spoken to him he was so down to earth. He will be missed.

[Adrian128]

Originally posted by Cold kiwi
It is really sad to read this as a New Zealander living overseas. He is such a great man, huge ambassador for Subaru. On the few occasions I have spoken to him he was so down to earth. He will be missed.

He was always so approachable. I remember in the 2001 Rally of Canberra he was very accomodating of the fans. He stayed back and signed a whole lot of autographs after the Super Special stage. All this after a full day of forest stages. I also managed to chat to him briefly too at last year's Sydney Int'l Motor Show.
His public presence hides the fact that he is a superstar and that he has accomplished what he has. Rally fans all around Australasia will miss him.

[johnfelstead]

Damn, thats really sad news.

Possum was a geat guy, he was Subaru through and through. A great loss to rallying and Subaru enthusiasts the world over.

may he RIP.

[Subie Gal]

oh no.

GodSpeed Possum....

[tt_ttf]

Life Support Turned Off For Possum
28, April 2003
By: NZ Herald
View profiles of: Possum Bourne
View news about: Possum Bourne
View photos of: Possum Bourne
Critically injured New Zealand rally driver Possum Bourne was tonight taken off full life support at the intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital.

The following news article courtesy of New Zealand Herald

A statement issued by Bourne's family said New Zealand's top rally driver had suffered a severe brain injury in a car crash on April 18 and had been actively managed since then.

"The extent and severity of the injury was not fully apparent until this weekend just gone, when ventilation support was decreased but he deteriorated and had to go back onto full support," the statement said.

Evaluation today which included a brain scan confirmed the severity of the original injury and "continuing full support is no longer in Possum's best interests."

Bourne, 47, suffered serious head and leg injuries in an accident during preparations for the Race to the Sky hillclimb near Cardrona, Central Otago, on Good Friday.

The car he was driving collided with a car driven by fellow rally driver Mike Baltrop. Bourne who was taken to Dunedin Hospital and operated on, has been in a drug induced coma since then.

Bourne is New Zealand's only professional rally driver and in 20 years of racing has three times claimed the Asia-Pacific title. He is the reigning Australian Rally champion, having won the title a record seven times.