(Motorsport-Total.com) – Last week, reports of a knife attack on former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo circulated in the media. Meanwhile, the 59-year-old told the Thai police that it was an accident.
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According to a report by the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, a moped rider passed closely by Salo, after which he felt a small bump on his leg. The racing retiree born in Helsinki was just about to cross a pedestrian crossing.
Only after 50 meters and a hint from a passerby did he notice the bloody wound. A lot of blood had already accumulated in his shoe as well.
After more or less successful attempts to clean the wound himself, Salo took a taxi to the hospital. There, the doctors found that the former Ferrari driver had suffered significantly more severe injuries than originally thought. It was a deep wound that, among other things, damaged the muscle tissue.
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“[Staff] told me that there were many such cases with similar wounds that evening and night,” Salo explained to Ilta-Sanomat. The wound, which according to the doctors must have been caused by a sharp object, required 28 stitches.
“Unfortunately, I currently cannot swim or do anything similar,” emphasized the former Toyota factory driver. “I have to spend most of the time in my hotel room. The wound heals better with air conditioning.”
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“The doctor also told me not to walk long distances, but one or two kilometers are doable. I have no pain and do not need painkillers, only the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.”
Despite this experience, Salo notes: “There are always such idiots in big cities.”
“Fortunately, it was only an injury to the leg. If someone really wanted to cause harm, they would probably have to attack the upper body.”
Shortly after the incident, the Thai police got involved. On Tuesday, Salo emphasized to the local authorities that it was an accident and that he plans to visit the country again in the future. This was announced in a statement published by the Bangkok Post.
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