Life support turned off for Possum

7.30pm

Critically injured New Zealand rally driver Possum Bourne was tonight taken off full life support at the intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital.

A statement issued by Bourne's family said New Zealand's top rally driver had suffered a severe brain injury in a car crash on April 18 and had been actively managed since then.

"The extent and severity of the injury was not fully apparent until this weekend just gone, when ventilation support was decreased but he deteriorated and had to go back onto full support," the statement said.

Evaluation today which included a brain scan confirmed the severity of the original injury and "continuing full support is no longer in Possum's best interests."

Bourne, 47, suffered serious head and leg injuries in an accident during preparations for the Race to the Sky hillclimb near Cardrona, Central Otago, on Good Friday.

The car he was driving collided with a car driven by fellow rally driver Mike Baltrop.

Bourne who was taken to Dunedin Hospital and operated on, has been in a drug induced coma since then.

Bourne is New Zealand's only professional rally driver and in 20 years of racing has three times claimed the Asia-Pacific title.

He is the reigning Australian Rally champion, having won the title a record seven times.

- NZPA