Ferrari crash teen out of Singapore hospital

KOLKATA: Aashna Surana, the 18-year-old girl who was critically injured in the suburban high-speed Ferrari crash on June 3, is out of hospital and recuperating with her parents in a rented apartment in Singapore. She is expected to return to Kolkata sometime next month after a minor surgery scheduled in a couple of weeks.

Aashna was in the co-driver’s seat in the blazing red Ferrari driven by her father’s friend Shibaji Roy when he slammed straight into a barrier on NH6. Roy died in the accident. Aashna suffered multiple injuries and underwent surgeries on her right leg and arm at the CMRI Hospital in Ekbalpore before being flown in an air ambulance to Singapore on June 12 for specialised trauma care at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

“She is a lot better now. She can speak, she can talk. She even cut her birthday cake on her own earlier this month. She can sit and walk slowly with the help of her parents and nurses. The progress has been astounding. But we don’t want to hurry. We want to get her back here when she is able to run down the stairs as she used to before the mishap,” said Atul Surana, Aashna’s uncle.

Aashna had gone for the Sunday morning joyride on NH 6 as part of the seven premium sports car motorcade with his father, Adarsh Surana, driving a BMW i8. It was while returning to the city after having breakfast at a café in Gurap off NH 6 that she insisted on taking a ride on the Ferrari and hopped on to the co-driver’s seat.

Atul Surana, too, was part of the group and was driving his Ferrari 488 Spider. At the time of the accident, Atul and Adarsh were ahead of Roy, driving their respective cars. When the Ferrari California T crashed into the guardrails of the Pakuria flyover, they weren’t even aware till another motorist alerted them.

Aashna was admitted at the CMRI Hospital for nine days where she underwent two surgeries. But during her prolonged stay on ventilator, she acquired secondary infections that are still being treated.

One of the family members, who happened to be a doctor, had advised the Suranas to shift her to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore that has specialised trauma care facilities.

“She is taking medications for the infection. Once the infection is under control, the doctors will conduct a minor surgery on her patella. This and the post-surgery observation will take around four-five weeks. We expect her to be back in Kolkata thereafter,” said Surana. Aashna’s parents Adarsh and Anita Surana are with her in Singapore.

The family is careful that no one speaks to her about the accident. “She is still in a deep trauma and doctors have specifically advised us to not to mention or ask anything about the accident,” said Surana.

Aashna who had secured 96.5% in CBSE Class XII examination was feted by her school Mahadevi Birla World Academy on the eve of her 18th birthday for her feat. However, her present worry is that college admission season is almost over and she may lose a year.

“I believe Aashna has applied to some colleges. I hope the institutions consider her case and allow late admission once she returns,” said Mahadevi Birla World Academy principal Anjana Saha.