Chennai: Online fundraising campaign to save biker's life

Chennai: The city’s racing fraternity has kick-started an online fundraising campaign in an effort to save the life a novice bike racer. Sebastian Selvaraj suffered grievous injuries to his internal organs after he crashed during the national bike racing championship at the Irungattukottai track. As he fell on the tarmac, one of the vehicles that followed him ran over his stomach.

The 23-year-old has been battling for his life in a private hospital for the past one week. Sebastian has to undergo multiple surgeries in the coming days, but he has already exhausted his insurance limit (Rs 5 lakh) from the mandatory medical policy provided by the motorsport federation.

Fellow competitor Aditya Rao who initiated the campaign on milaap.org said they need around Rs 50 lakh for the medical treatment. “He is suffering from internal injuries to his cardio thoracic region affecting his spleen, urinary bladder, kidneys and intestines. Sebastian comes from a humble background and he self-funded his racing career by driving an auto rickshaw in Chennai”, he added.

Support has been pouring in from all directions soon after starting the campaign online. Jagan Kumar, the reigning national champion, urged the racing community to come forward and donate generously. “We all know how dangerous the sport is.  But once it becomes your passion, you don’t think about it. For our fraternity, it’s time to show solidarity,” he added.

Amit Arora of Madras Motor Sports Club said Sebastian was first brought to the track medical centre for preliminary test and shifted to the private hospital immediately when he complained of pain in the abdomen.

“We reviewed the video of the crash and it was purely a racing incident. Sebastain had contact with another racer and fell on the track. A rider behind him, obviously had nowhere to go, climbed over him. The same day he was operated to stop bleeding from urinary bladder”, said Arora.