Dr Christian Wahlen, chief medical officer at Spa Francorchamps, has refuted Juan Manuel Correa’s criticism over his care following last year’s Formula 2 crash.
Earlier this week, the American-Colombian revealed he almost died four days following the high-speed accident at the top of Eau Rouge/Raidillon, which would claim the life of Anthoine Hubert.
The reason, he suggested, was because the FIA medical team which first treated him left Belgium direct for Monza the following weekend without informing doctors at the Liege hospital of the full details of the crash, including the highest G-forces, Correa stated, the doctors had ever seen a driver survive from.
Dr Wahlen though insists he remained in contact with those treating the 20-year-old in the days after the accident.
“Juan Manuel Correa received immediate medical attention at the scene of the accident, administered by the circuit-appointed doctor who is an experienced anaesthetist,” he stated to RaceFans.
“The activities of medical staff attending the accident were coordinated by FIA deputy F1 medical delegate and F1 rescue coordinator doctor Ian Roberts.
“Juan Manuel received continuous care as he was transported by ambulance to the track medical centre. On arrival, he was stabilised by the trauma team, who are under my responsibility as chief medical officer for this Grand Prix.
“After consulting with doctor Alain Chantegret, FIA F1 medical delegate, it was clear from the nature of his injuries that Juan Manuel needed to be transferred immediately by helicopter to the care of the Center Hospitalier Universitaire Liège (CHU Liège) to receive more specialist medical and operative care.
“In my role as chief medical officer and as an FIA medical delegate, I remained in constant contact with the hospital and also visited Juan Manuel on Monday 2nd September, where he was recovering well from the surgery to his feet,” Wahlen continued.
“That same day, Gérard Saillant contacted Juan Manuel’s father, Juan Carlos Correa, to assure them that he was at their disposal.
“On Tuesday morning Juan Manuel developed symptoms indicating a respiratory problem. On the same day, the Correa family took the decision to transfer him to a specialist clinic at a hospital in London to receive orthopaedic treatment to his right foot at the earliest opportunity.”
Correa spent two months in the UK undergoing further surgeries to save his right leg from being amputated before returning to Miami, Florida where his recovery continues.
