A miserable way to die.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/report-john-surtees-son-henry-dead-after-formula-2-crash-at/

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.

Condolences to the family.

I can only hope that I go out doing something that I love to do and not stuck in a hospital with hoses and wires plugged into me. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Al Stephenson

alstevens wrote: I can only hope that I go out doing something that I love to do and not stuck in a hospital with hoses and wires plugged into me. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Al Stephenson

While I agree with this general sentiment, I don't think any of us likes to see it happen to an 18-year old kid.

Very sad for the family. Incedentally, I was surprised to hear that "Shirtsleeves" had an 18 year old kid, he has to be well into his 70s now!

yeah, he has two young boys, I believe Henry was the older of the two. At one point they were considering running Indy Lights, but ended up sticking with the european thing with Formula 1 aspirations.

it sucks that Henry died so young, I had hoped (selfishly), that I could have seen him develop into a top driver, with Surtees bloodlines, he would have been excellent. As has been said, it is a terrible thing when someone dies so young.

what a shame. I hope my folks never have to attend my funeral. It should be the other way around. I hope they find some solace in that he probably felt no pain. My thoughts go out to them.

Wow, what a freak accident.

My condolences to the family as well.

Jensenman wrote: Wow, what a freak accident. My condolences to the family as well.

+1

Didnt something similar to that happen in formula one racing like 30 years ago invliving someone running across the track carrying a fire extinguisher?

He was struck by a car at full speed, the video is around and is horrific.

Condolences to the family

Travis_K wrote: Didnt something similar to that happen in formula one racing like 30 years ago invliving someone running across the track carrying a fire extinguisher?

That was Tom Pryce racing in South Africa.

That is just chilling, dad and I were just talking about loose wheels in Formula car racing. The cables Champ and other series tried didn't seem to work very well since it tended to send the wheels into the drivers. "Rope-a-dope" I think was the term we gave it.

My sincere condolences to the family and all involved. While I hope he was enjoying himself up until the accident, I'm sure that isn't how and when he wanted to go.

Very sad.

Yes, that sucks. I'm going to say, though that he was most likely doing what he wanted to do, sorta like Ernhardt, so that, to me, doesn't make it a miserable way to die. I've seen miserable ways to die. There may not be any good ways, but there are some truely sucky ways. I'll spare ya'll the details on that.

never forget ,motorsport racing can be dangerous!

Dr. Hess wrote: Yes, that sucks. I'm going to say, though that he was most likely doing what he wanted to do, sorta like Ernhardt, so that, to me, doesn't make it a miserable way to die. I've seen miserable ways to die. There may not be any good ways, but there are some truely sucky ways. I'll spare ya'll the details on that.

+1