Rally ace clinging to life as doctors turn off machines

By SCOTT MacLEOD and NZPA

Critically ill rally driver Possum Bourne was clinging to life last night after doctors switched off all the machines at his bedside.

But Dunedin Hospital staff told the rally ace's family his chances of surviving were almost nil.

Friends and family gathered at Bourne's bedside as tributes flooded in for the 47-year-old champion, including more than 4000 messages on his website.

Late yesterday the Bourne family issued a statement saying he had been removed from all life support, but was getting the "best possible care from the hospital staff". Bourne's wife, Peggy, and other family members were at his bedside.

The general manager of Possum Bourne Motorsport, Murray Brown, said the family "continues to take strength from Possum's courage to the end, as well as the messages of support from throughout New Zealand, Australia and around the world.

"No further statements will be made until there is a significant change in Possum's condition."

Websites associated with Bourne crashed yesterday as motorsport fans tried to get news about their hero.

Former rally driver Neil Allport described his old rival as one of the most determined characters on the rally scene.

"He was a very gifted driver - always has been," Allport said. "He didn't have to work hard at it. His desire to achieve was probably greater than the rest of us."

Allport, who manages a British team in the World Rally Championship, is due to fly to Argentina tomorrow for the next round - races he said Bourne had been looking forward to competing in.

News that Bourne's injuries were probably fatal had come as a shock. "We always thought it would just be a long road back."

Rally of New Zealand chairman Morrie Chandler said he had taken many calls from overseas during the past 10 days about Bourne. He described Bourne, who has won the last seven Australian rally championships, as the face of New Zealand rallying.

Other New Zealand drivers had success overseas, but none had matched Bourne's achievements. "He had a two-year project and I'm sure he would have been successful in his aim to be world champion."

Rival driver and three-time national champion Bruce Herbert said few things shocked him, except for the news of the severity of Bourne's injuries.

"The guy is a huge identity throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region. At Rally NZ, you'd see all these 'go Possum go' signs.

"As a person he is terrific, always a smile on his face. As a driver? He's right up there."

Bourne, from Pukekohe, crashed near Cardrona on Good Friday while driving on a public road checking the route for the Race to the Sky hillclimb.

His Subaru stationwagon and a Jeep Cherokee driven by fellow competitor Mike Barltrop collided. Barltrop was discharged from hospital last week after surgery on his left leg.

Wanaka police yesterday said they were awaiting crash analysis reports and would match those with witness statements before deciding whether to lay charges. They could not say when the reports would be ready.

Bourne started rallying in the 1970s. He was overall New Zealand champion in 1991 and won the Asia-Pacific championship three times between 1993 and 2000.