In November 1995 Adelaide hosted the final race of the 1995 Australian Grand Prix. It was the final race of the season and the last to be held in Adelaide. But what does this have to do with the Royal Adelaide Hospital?
Mclaren driver Mika Häkkinen’s crash is one of the most dramatic moments in Formula 1 history, and the fact that the Royal Adelaide Hospital played a crucial role in his recovery highlights the significance of the medical care provided at the hospital.
On Friday 12th November’s Qualifying Session Häkkinen’s car was launched into the air after the tyre failure, and he hit the barrier at incredible speed, sustaining serious injuries including a skull fracture, internal bleeding, and airway blockage. Doctors Jerome Cockings and Steve Lewis from the Royal Adelaide Hospital were fortunately at the scene. They were volunteering their time as part of the medical team, when the accident occurred. Dr. Jerome Cockings performed an emergency tracheotomy right at the track. It was a critical moment. A tracheotomy is an intense procedure, typically performed to secure an airway in a patient who is struggling to breathe, and doing it in such high-stress conditions, is a testament to Cockings’ skill and calm under pressure as they fought to save the life of the F1 Driver.
On top of that, Dr. Sid Watkins’ arrival in the medical car and his subsequent actions, including restarting Häkkinen’s heart twice, were crucial in stabilizing him. Watkins, who was renowned for his work as F1’s chief medical officer, was instrumental in many life-saving interventions in motorsports, and his role in this particular incident is a powerful example of how prepared medical teams are in the world of racing.
Häkkinen’s quick transport to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, just half a kilometre from the track, was also a huge factor in his survival. That proximity allowed for rapid intervention, ensuring that he received the full spectrum of trauma care as quickly as possible.
The expertise of the Trauma Service, Neurosurgical Unit, and ICU at the Royal Adelaide Hospital really showcased the level of care that the hospital was equipped to provide. It’s amazing to think that, despite such severe injuries, Häkkinen not only survived but made a full recovery and went on to become a world champion in F1.
Mika couldn’t move, he wasn’t breathing or communicating in any way with us, but he was alive” Dr Cockings
Following his recovery he wanted to give back to the hospital that saved his life. His donation to help build a helipad at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is a powerful way to express his gratitude for the life-saving medical care he received. It’s clear that Häkkinen recognized just how crucial the hospital and its medical staff were in his recovery, and his donation not only supported the hospital but also helped improve its ability to respond to trauma cases in the future.
The addition of a helipad was a significant upgrade for the hospital, especially in terms of quickly transporting critically injured patients from accident scenes or remote areas. Häkkinen’s decision to visit Australia for the official opening of the helipad in March 1997 further emphasized how much he valued the care he received. It also served as a reminder of the close connection between the medical team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and his own recovery.
His gesture of both financial support and personal involvement in the opening ceremony is a testament to the deep appreciation he felt for the doctors and medical staff who worked so tirelessly to save his life. It’s also a powerful reflection of the kind of gratitude that often comes from people who experience life-altering events, and how they choose to give back in meaningful ways.
What a fantastic way to honour the medical team, while also ensuring that future patients could benefit from faster, life-saving transport to the hospital.
Dr Stephen Lewis
Surgeon at RAH with a specialty in head injuries who had pioneered a prize winning ultrasound technique, which allows oxygen to flow to the brain after a serious head injury and lessens the dangers of the suffering permanent damage because of oxygen starvation.
Not many people can do what he did to their head and get away with it,” – Dr Lewis regarding Hakkinen’s injury.
Dr Jerome Cockings
Dr Cockings trained in the UK and throughout Australia. Having moved to Adelaide to undergo Intensive Care Medicine training he was based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1995. His career in Australia took him all over the country before moving back to the UK in 2003.
In January 2023 Mika Hakkinen and Doctors Cockings and Lewis were reunited at McLaren’s 60th Anniversary.
The Royal Adelaide Hospital played a pivotal part in saving the life of F1 driver Mika Hakkinen. Due to the skill of RAH doctors Lewis and Cockings as well as the advanced equipment at the hospital his life was saved. Thanks to Hakkinen’s kind donation the helipad was able to be built and that in itself saved thousands more lives.
Written by Kellie Branson, CALHN Health Museum