Formula 2 driver Juan Manuel Correa has been removed from the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine, life support and taken out of an induced coma, according to the latest update from his medical team.
The American racer was involved in the crash that killed Anthoine Hubert during the Belgian round of the F2 championship. He suffered severe injuries and at the start of the month was transferred to a hospital in London for treatment following the discovery of a minor spinal injury and acute respiratory failure.
The latest news is a positive step in Correa's recovery with his condition downgraded from critical to serious, though his medical team warned he faces many more challenges in the coming weeks and months.
"Juan Manuel is conscious, but not fully yet awake," a statement from his management confirmed. "Doctors report that this will take a few days due to being in induced coma for more than two weeks.
"They have also stated that Juan Manuel is fragile and still vulnerable medically speaking and that he remains in the Intensive Care Unit. His condition has been downgraded from critical to serious.
"The medical priority for Juan Manuel now shifts from the lungs to the leg injuries that were sustained more than two weeks ago and have not been addressed since the initial emergency intervention the day of the incident.
"Doctors are in a race against time to perform a pending major surgery in order to minimize risk of irreversible injuries to his right lower extremity but can’t proceed until lungs are ready to withstand a lengthy operation."
It added: "Additional details will be provided on Juan Manuel’s condition when available."
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