SIMPSON driver Matt Symons has avoided surgery after sustaining serious injuries in a wingless sprintcar crash at Allansford’s Premier Speedway on Sunday night.
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The 23-year-old was airlifted to Melbourne’s The Alfred Hospital after he broke his neck and back on the opening lap of the A-main final.
The crash forced the feature race of the night to be called off at 10.30pm as the infield ambulance attended to the injured driver.
Matt’s father Alan confirmed his son, who arrived at The Alfred at 3am on Monday morning after receiving initial scans at Warrnambool Base Hospital, had escaped surgery following the incident.
“He has feeling in his arms and legs and the surgeons had a look at his scans and said they wouldn’t have to operate,” he said.
“They took him to The Alfred because they thought they were going to have to operate on him.
“We have been texting him and he is in good spirits apart from the fact he is staring at the roof and can’t move. It’s going to be a long recovery process.”
Earlier in the night Symons claimed victory in B-main two to qualify for the wingless sprints A-main.
Echuca’s Travis Mills successfully defended his state speedcar title in the headline event while young American formula 500 driver Jake Andreotti won the $2000-to-win feature.
Dion Bellman claimed victory in the five-round speedweek series, edging out his brother Chris.
Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
