The wife of a racing driver seriously injured in a crash at Ruapuna Speedway says her husband has a long road to recovery.
As reported by chrislynchmedia.com, Kevin Ban was involved in a crash on March 8, suffering serious burns.
His wife, Tania Curtin, told chrislynchmedia.com, “Kevin was moved from the ICU to the National Burns Centre at Middlemore on Thursday.
“His condition remains serious but stable, and this transfer is an important milestone,” Curtin said.
“We have a long road to recovery ahead. Fortunately, Kevin is the most determined person I know, so he’s got the right attitude to push through rehabilitation and beyond.
“We’re so grateful to the people who put themselves at risk to extract Kevin from the car — we’re forever indebted to them. We also want to thank the St John ambulance team who took us from the track to Christchurch Hospital,” Curtin said.
Photo: Henry (son) Middle, Kevin, right, Tania
“The Emergency Department, Plastics, and ICU teams at Christchurch were exceptional. To watch them at work was a humbling experience, and we’re eternally grateful for how they handled those early hours.”
Curtin said, “At Middlemore, we’ve had some amazing nurses, orderlies, doctors, surgeons, and others. What these people do — and the grace with which they do it — is nothing short of incredible. And all within a clearly broken healthcare system.
“Lastly, the outpouring of support, especially from the motorsport community, has been amazing. From practical support back home to donations and messages of support — we really appreciate it.
Kevin with the sprintcar, taken a few hours before the crash.
“We hope a meaningful response from Speedway New Zealand will be forthcoming soon,” Curtin said.
The day following the crash, Ruapuna Speedway said, “We have initiated a full investigation into this freak accident to gain a better understanding of what happened. Our thoughts remain with the driver and his family, and we are providing support where possible.”
