Russell Brancker will be united with family and friends in Barbados today.
The co-driver, who was severely injured along with driver Daryl Clarke in the Automotive Art/Flow/Amir’s Chicken/MQI Collision Repair/eCarib Classifieds Honda Civic in the recent Sol Rally Barbados,was released from St Vincent Medical Group, Medical Centre, Cleveland, Ohio, last Tuesday after undergoing surgery under the watchful eye of neurologist Dr Deborah Blades.
On the way back home, Brancker and his wife, Jamie-Lee, visited his friend and rally partner Daryl Clarke, who is in a Miami hospital.
Clarke was injured in the shunt with Brancker on the Spring Vale, St Andrew Stage, on Day 2 of the event. Brancker’s flight is due at the Grantley Adams International Airport at 5 p.m.
Brancker’s father, former acceleration test champion Euclid Brancker, told SATURDAY SUN SPORT his son’s recovery includes three days of physiotherapy per week, and then another operation in about five weeks’ time.
“The family and I are coping with the prevailing conditions as best we could. It is very hard for all of us, as it also includes his driving colleague Daryl,” Brancker noted.
The father said one bright spot was the outpouring of support and sympathy they have been receiving from the Barbados Rally Club (BRC), family, friends and corporate Barbados.
“Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Margaret Inniss, Senior Immigration Officer Ray Greenidge, Eustacia McConney, Barry Walcott, Kareem Carter, as well as the staff of Ward B7 of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, all have our thanks and praise for their assistance in getting Russell to Ohio,” Brancker said.
An account has been set up at the Warrens, St Michael, branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia to assist with the medical care of the two drivers.
The number is 000461181 and it is administered by Norman Catwell and Jennifer-Ann Turney-Gonsalves.
Automotive Art has sponsored a Go-Fund-Me account on their Facebook page.
Another fundraising event, organised by the BRC, is scheduled for June 29 at the Mahogany Ridge Restaurant, Plum Tree Road,St James, starting at 8 p.m.