Alex Zanardi, F1 driver and multiple CART and Paralympic champion, dies at 59
Key takeaways
- Italian race driver turned Paralympian Alex Zanardi has died aged 59.
- "Alex fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones," the statement said.
- The family didn't go into details on the cause of death, but the double amputee suffered severe cranial injuries in a road accident when riding his handbike in Siena in northern Italy in 2020.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Italian race driver turned Paralympian Alex Zanardi has died aged 59. The former Formula 1 driver and two-time CART champion lost his legs in a horrific crash at the peak of his powers, but his drive to compete endured.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DA0FWithin a year of his life-changing crash in 2001, a smiling Zanardi was back at a CART race waving the checkered flag [FILE: July 7, 2002]Image: Frank Gunn/AP Photo/picture alliance Advertisement Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi, a decorated Italian race driver and later para-cyclist, has suddenly at the age of 59, his family said in a statement on Saturday.
"Alex fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones," the statement said.