REPORT: John Surtees' son, Henry, dead after freak accident at Brands Hatch Formula 2 race
Henry Surtees, son of Formula 1 World Champion and motorcycle champion John Surtees has died after a freak accident during a weekend race at Brands Hatch. The 18-year-old was competing in a Formula 2 race on the U.K. track on Sunday when racer Jack Clarke crashed into a tire barrier ahead of him on the track. Debris from the shunt was sent back onto the racing surface, and one of the rear wheels of Clarke's racer flew off, bouncing off the helmet of Surtees and apparently knocking him unconscious. Surtees car then went straight off the track and into a barrier.
The race was red flagged while Surtees was airlifted from Brands Hatch, but doctors were apparently unable to save him at the Royal London Hospital.
Surtees, who had competed in Formula Renault and Formula 3 last year, had just claimed his first-ever F2 podium finish the day prior at the first race of the weekend at Brands Hatch. Thanks to all of you who sent in tips.
[Source: BBC News | Image: johnsurtees.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr.Oak 8:09AM (7/20/2009)
Condolences to the Surtees clan. Dying in a racing accident caused by you or your equipment failure is one thing, by someone's flying debris, is almost unbearable.
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Mr.Oak 8:11AM (7/20/2009)
RIP Kiddo. At least he went out doing something he loved.
ronEbear 10:07AM (7/20/2009)
Makes me wonder:
What if the car had a roof?
Mayoman 10:12AM (7/20/2009)
what if the car was 5 inches to the left, it may have missed. You can do what if's forever, it was a freak tragic accident. In todays world of safety cells and advanced crash protection we sometimes forget how dangerous racing can be.
FThorn 8:29AM (7/20/2009)
God rest his soul, and bless his family.
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xspeedy 8:30AM (7/20/2009)
I guess those cars don't have tethers to prevent the wheels from flying off. Thought I remember something about the F1 cars having them. Guess it hasn't trickled down yet.
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Philthy 8:38AM (7/20/2009)
Formula 2 does mandate wheel tethers, but as we've seen in all forms of racing they're not failsafe.
Brian 2:46PM (7/20/2009)
Very sad indeed.
I would say that Brands Hatch gave him every fighting chance, the air ambulance was started what seems like less than a minute after the crash and very soon after was in the air.
Philthy 8:37AM (7/20/2009)
Horrible news and an absolutely freak accident, a one-in-a-million thing. My condolences to the Surtees family for the loss of someone so young, and from what I've read extremely well liked.
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hashiryu 11:22AM (7/20/2009)
I feel exactly the same way. This news bit has totally put a downer on my morning.
R.I.P. my condolences to the family....
robc_allcomm 8:53AM (7/20/2009)
Condolences to his family.
He died doing what he loved and I'm sure he didn't feel a thing.
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RareHero 8:49AM (7/20/2009)
RIP. It's a sad day in motorsport when a driver passes away, especially one at such a young age.
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JMF 9:15AM (7/20/2009)
Condolences to the Surtees.
Godspeed Henry!
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ntcougar7 9:36AM (7/20/2009)
Im sorry to see this... this is terrible and sad !
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ronEbear 10:26AM (7/20/2009)
Since when do I have to confirm posts by e-mail when I`m logged in to the site?
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ronEbear 10:26AM (7/20/2009)
Not this time.
ronEbear 10:34AM (7/20/2009)
Where are my confirmation e-mails?
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ronEbear 10:36AM (7/20/2009)
The man is out to get me man, censoring me and spit.
ronEbear 10:37AM (7/20/2009)
Is it because I don`t want to say "god" or "bless" ?
ronEbear 10:40AM (7/20/2009)
death