After the serious accident he had in the USA at the beginning of December in preparation for the 2024 Dakar Rally, Matthias Walkner is now back in Austria.
It was already clear immediately after the serious crash on December 5th that the Dakar Rally, which took place in January, was over for him before it even started. But Walkner’s latest statement gives hope for the future.
The injuries – fractures to the tibia, fibula and ankle – have now been operated on several times. After an initial operation carried out in Palms Springs, California, Walkner underwent surgery on Wednesday this week (December 20) in Graz, his native Austria. The procedure lasted 15 hours and it wasn’t the last one.
There was “not much left” of his broken ankle, as Walkner said in his latest statement with reference to his medical team. As he did immediately after the fall in the USA, Walkner addressed his fans again immediately after the operation in Austria with a detailed personal post on his Facebook account. There he wrote on Saturday evening:
“Dear friends, dear fans. I think now is the right time to get in touch again. First of all – thank you for the incredible sympathy, the numerous messages and well-wishes! I have been in the intensive care unit for check-ups since the operation on Wednesday still very tired and weak.”
“Today is the first day that I’m feeling reasonably well again. I had an operation that lasted 15 hours and now I’ve also gotten an intestinal germ because my immune system is so weakened. That’s why I’m currently in the intensive care unit.”
“The doctors are very happy with the soft tissue, everything has good blood circulation and the foot looks really good despite the long operation. Dr. Plecko and his team did an incredible job and they didn’t finish the operation until everything was put together perfectly. An incredibly meticulous work. That’s why the long operation. Apparently there wasn’t much left of the joint.”
“It was practically all crumbled and there was no bone left. They then took a bone from my pelvis and put this puzzle together. What these doctors do every day and what they did during my 15-hour operation is unimaginable for me and I believe it Infinitely grateful to the entire Graz team.”
“It’s a very character-forming time right now. I’ve noticed since today that things are looking up. Tomorrow on December 24th I have the next operation, but it’s a very small one and if everything goes well I can leave the intensive care unit on December 25th or 26th “The knee will be operated on on December 27th. Then the operation marathon should be over for now.”
“I wish you all a wonderful and merry Christmas with your families and your friends. Have a wonderful time together. Kind regards, Hiasi”