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F1 legend Nigel Mansell was given last rites after horror crash

Motorsport legend Nigel Mansell has recalled how his career - and life - nearly ended long before he ever set foot in an F1 car.

Published: Saturday, 17 October 2026 at 4:57 PM
F1 legend Nigel Mansell was given last rites after horror crash
Key Things to Know
  • Nigel Mansell recalled surviving a severe teenage karting crash that nearly killed him prior to his racing career.
  • The crash occurred in Morecambe when a broken steering column caused Mansell to be thrown from his kart.
  • Mansell suffered critical head trauma after being struck in the helmet by another kart at 120 mph.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell recounted a near-fatal teenage karting crash at Morecambe during an appearance on the Road to Success podcast. Mansell explained that a broken steering column caused him to be ejected from his kart at high speed before another kart struck his helmet at 120 mph. The severe impact caused major head trauma, resulting in hemorrhaging from his nose and ears, leaving him unconscious in the hospital.

Mansell described waking up in the hospital to find a priest administering the last rites while he was drifting near a bright light. Irritated by the praying, Mansell told the priest to leave before passing out again, an intervention he credited with bringing him back to consciousness and ultimately saving his life.

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