Paralympic champion and former racing driver Alex Zanardi has left hospital following accidents sustained in a handbike accident 18 months in the past.

Former F1 driver and Champ Automotive champion Zanardi suffered a extreme head harm in a collision with a truck in the course of the Obiettivo Tricolore handbike race in June 2020. Since then he has undergone a number of operations and acquired care at a specialist facility in Padua, Italy.

On Monday, his spouse confirmed he has been launched from hospital.

“An vital step was that Alex was capable of go away hospital just a few weeks in the past and is again at dwelling with us now,” she stated in an announcement. “We needed to wait very lengthy for this and are very comfortable that it was potential now, even when there are nonetheless momentary stays in particular clinics deliberate for the long run to hold out particular rehabilitation measures on website.

“The restoration continues to be an extended course of. The rehabilitation programme led by docs, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists and speech therapists has enabled regular progress. In fact, setbacks are there and might nonetheless happen. Generally you additionally must make two steps again with the intention to make one step ahead. However Alex proves many times that he’s an actual fighter.”

Zanardi drove for Lotus, Minardi and Williams both aspect of stints in Champ Automotive, the place he gained the title in 1997 and 1998. The Italian driver misplaced each legs in a horrific crash in 2001, however he returned to racing in World Touring Automotive Championship in 2005 in a modified automotive.

He additionally turned his consideration to handcycling and has gained 4 Paralympic golds – two at London 2012 and one other two at Rio 2016 — in addition to two silver medals.