Bianchi father 'too upset' to talk about investigation

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Bianchi father 'too upset' to talk about investigation

Published on 13 Apr 2015 10:33
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By: Rob Veenstra

Jules Bianchi's father has admitted he is angry about the investigation into his son's horror 2014 crash. More than six months after that fateful day in Japan, 25-year-old Frenchman Bianchi remains in a coma in his native Nice.

His father, Philippe, said he agreed to a new interview with the local Nice-Matin newspaper "out of respect for all the people who continue to send Jules their beautiful wishes, encouragement and affection every day". But he admitted there is little to report about Jules' progress.

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"The only thing we can say is that he fights with the same strength that he has always fought with, before and after the accident," said Philippe. "Every day, Jules does a marathon. From a medical point of view, his condition is stable. He is fairly autonomous -- no physical problems. All of his organs are working without assistance. But for now, he remains unconscious."

Asked if the neurosurgeons in Nice have noticed any improvement in Bianchi's brain state, Philippe answered: "For this kind of trauma, we know the evolution is very slow. But compared to what the Japanese professor who operated on him told us, it is already night and day. There, when we arrived to see Jules, there was no hope. There was talk of irreversible damage."

"It was said he could not be transferred before one year, but it was done after seven weeks, as Jules quickly began to breathe again on his own. Now, the doctors tell us there is no specific intervention they can do. Most important is to stimulate Jules so that he feels a constant presence at his side. So we take turns every day -- his mother, his sister, his brother and me. He also has his German girlfriend, Gina, who lives here now," Philippe revealed.

"From time to time," he continued, "at his bedside, we see that things are happening. Sometimes he is more active, he moves more, squeezes our hand -- but is it mere reflex or is it real? Hard to know," Mr Bianchi acknowledged.

He said it continues to be a terrible time within the family of the promising French driver. "Our universe collapsed on 5 October 2014," said Philippe. "The questions that no one can answer now: will he make it? If so, will he be disabled or can he live normally? I think that in this type of accident, it hits harder than a death. The suffering is relentless. A daily torture. To those people who think of him, I want to thank. And tell them that we will give news when there is any, good or bad."

As for the FIA investigation that essentially blamed Bianchi for the Suzuka crash, however, Philippe sounded furious. "It was an internal investigation," he answered curtly. "Only those who were involved were engaged."

"Regarding this, I have nothing new to say," said Mr Bianchi. "Very good people are involved now to defend the interests of Jules. If someone is responsible some day, he will have to pay. Frankly, I'm too upset to talk about it. I prefer to focus my energy on Jules now," he added. (GMM)

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