Double CART champion Alex Zanardi has begun to be brought out of his induced coma with doctors treating the 53-year-old confirming they are currently reducing his sedation to allow further medical examinations to go ahead.
Zanardi has been in intensive care at a hospital in Siena after his handbike collided with a truck during a competition event in his native Italy on June 19.
He has since undergone a facial reconstruction surgery and two separate neurological operations but has remained in an induced coma for over three weeks.
A reduction in his sedation will enable medical professionals to determine the long-term consequences of Zanardi’s injuries.
“Following the reduction of sedation, it will take a few days for further evaluations on the patient by the multidisciplinary team that takes care of the athlete, to allow any continuation of his therapeutic and rehabilitative path,” read a hospital statement.
“Currently, the cardio-respiratory and metabolic parameters remain stable, the neurological picture remains serious and the prognosis remains confidential.”
A three-time Paralympic champion, Zanardi had both his legs amputated in an incident during a CART race in Germany in 2001.
Since his life-changing accident, he has claimed wins in the World Touring Car series piloting an adapted BMW which allowed him to control the throttle and brake with hand controls.
Zanardi has even made appearances in the Daytona 24 Hours and DTM over the 2010s and was set to contest an Italian GT event at Monza in November.