Juan Manuel Correa remains in induced coma (Update)

American Juan Manuel Correa still alive with help of ECMO machine

UPDATE Juan Manuel Correa has been taken off life support, but doctors now face "a race against time" to address the American driver's severe leg injuries.

Correa was injured in the horrific crash that claimed the life of F2 racer Anthoine Hubert at Spa during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

The 20-year-old Sauber junior driver suffered extensive trauma to his lungs and lower legs, and was initially treated in Liege before being transferred to a special intensive care unit in London where he was placed in an induced coma.

The family released on Friday evening the following update on Juan Manuel's condition:

"As of today, Juan Manuel Correa has been removed from the ECMO machine, life support and taken out of induced coma.

"While this is great news and a major step in the right direction, he is still in a race against time.

"Juan Manuel is conscious, but not fully yet awake. Doctors report that this will take a few days due to being in induced coma for more than two weeks.

"They have also stated that Juan Manuel is fragile and still vulnerable medically speaking and that he remains in the Intensive Care Unit. His condition has been upgraded from critical to serious.

"The medical priority for Juan Manuel now shifts from the lungs to the leg injuries that were sustained more than two weeks ago and have not been addressed since the initial emergency intervention the day of the incident.

"Doctors are in a race against time to perform a pending major surgery in order to minimize risk of irreversible injuries to his right lower extremity but can’t proceed until lungs are ready to withstand a lengthy operation.

"Additional details will be provided on Juan Manuel’s condition when available."

09/14/19 On Friday evening, in the first public statement since that release, his family provided an update, detailing the events of the past week.

“Our son, Juan Manuel, remains in the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in London, England with my wife and I at his side," read a bulletin from Juan Carlos and Maria Correa.

“We have good days and bad days as well as long nights and short nights but with the support of the motorsports community, our friends, family, country and fans, we continue to pray for Juan Manuel.

“Juan Manuel remains in a state of induced coma with paralysis in order for his lungs to get as much rest as possible.

“Continuing to be assisted by an ECMO machine many of the key vital indicators have improved slightly while others have deteriorated very little.

“We have been reminded by the doctors that as long as Juan Manuel continues in an upward trend of improvement, even if very little, it is all that we can ask for at the moment.

“Infections are under control and respiratory indicators remain stable and all vital signs continue to remain consistent and stable.

“We believe in our son’s strength and determination, we see the minor improvement as an indication of him starting to turn the tide in his favor, we just need him to do it a little quicker.

“Doctors continue to monitor and change the bandages when necessary and confirm that the fractures are multiple and severe.

“Additional surgeries will be required once Juan Manuel’s lungs improve to a state that it is safe for doctors to proceed."

Correa’s parents thanked well-wishers for their support and messages sent since the accident.

“We would like to thank each and every person that has called, texted, sent emails and reached out on social media," they said.

“We have received and read or continue to read and show all the messages to Juan Manuel.

“Your messages help him to fight and never give up. This will be the biggest single motivator for Juan Manuel when he regains consciousness.

“We invite fans and friends to continue to send supportive messages via social media or to Info@JMCorrea.com. Again, thank you for your support."