Sad news to report from the world of Formula One tonight. Jules Bianchi, the former driver for the Marussia F1 team that was critically injured in a crash under adverse conditions at the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2014, has passed away at the age of 25. His family confirmed his passing early Saturday morning in France.
Sad News: Jules Bianchi Dead at 25
Bianchi was diagnosed with a diffuse axonal injury after his car lost control in the wet at the Suzuka Circuit under the safety car. His car would become lodged under a tractor crane when his car slid underneath it. Originally hospitalized in Japan, Bianchi was moved to France in November 2014 and remained in a coma since the crash. With no recovery in sight, the family as recently as this week spoke of the torture it brought knowing this.
The family released the following statement via facebook.
A Statement from the Bianchi Family
Nice, France
Saturday 18 July 2015
02.45hrs France │ 01.45hrs UK
It is with deep sadness that the parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Mélanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Nice, (France) where he was admitted following the accident of 5th October 2014 at Suzuka Circuit during the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix.
“Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end,” said the Bianchi family. “The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication. We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.
“Furthermore, we thank Jules’ colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world.
“We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.”
The motorsports world mourns the loss of Jules Bianchi around the world.
We at Last Word on Sports give our deepest sympathies to Bianchi’s family, friends, teammates, colleagues, fans, and all who mourn him on this tragic day.
Main Photo Credit: NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Jules Bianchi of France sits in a Ferrari in the garage during day two of testing at Silverstone Circuit on July 9, 2014 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
