“Unfortunately, the situation soon turned dramatic, because Ayrton had injuries to his head, neck and base of the skull. Instantly, he became unconscious. His vital signs were altered. All the conditions did not indicate anything good. Blood had come out of the mouth and nose, and unfortunately there was brain matter [espalhada]. Still, we made several attempts at aspiration, ventilation and oxygenation.”
The images immediately after the accident showed Senna making a slight movement with his head, which gave hope to those watching the race at home that the driver was okay. However, Dr. Misley states that it was an involuntary movement, and that from the moment of impact, Senna never regained consciousness. The Italian, together with Formula 1 doctor Sid Watkins, accompanied Senna by helicopter to the Maggiore Hospital, in Bologna.
There is a widespread theory that the major aggravating factor in Ayrton Senna’s accident was the impact of the suspension bar, which, when released shortly after the collision, hit the visor of the driver’s helmet, and then his forehead. However, in an unprecedented statement to the Brazilian press, Dr. Misley is categorical in stating that this is not the reason for the three-time champion’s death.
“Absolutely not. It’s false. In fact, a piece of the suspension entered the helmet and caused a frontal injury measuring a few centimeters, which, of course, is not innocuous. But, certainly, that was not the problem that caused Senna’s death was caused by a fracture of the base of the skull, due to the strong impact caused by deceleration. The injury to the suspension bar is secondary and non-lethal. [Se fosse só ela]Senna would be alive.”
Skull base trauma is a serious injury in which the base of the skull, the lower part where the brain sits, fractures due to a strong impact or sudden movement. After an abrupt deceleration of a body at high speed, the brain, which floats inside the skull, continues to move even after the impact ends and the body stops after the accident. This can cause a “whiplash” effect, in which the brain moves within the skull and can slam into the inner walls of the skull, including the cranial base.
