Mika Salo left with leg wound after shocking attack in Thailand
According to Finnish outlet 1st, the incident took place on May 19. Speaking to the publication, Salo said he initially felt something strike him but did not realise what had happened. It was only when a passer-by pointed out that blood was pouring from his leg that he became aware of the injury: “At that moment, I felt something hit me, but I didn’t realise what had happened. Then a passer-by told me there was blood pouring from my leg.”
Once it became clear that the injury was more severe than first believed, a taxi driver came to Salo’s aid and rushed him to hospital. Doctors later informed the former F1 driver that they had dealt with similar incidents that evening and determined that the wound had likely been caused by a sharp-edged weapon, possibly a knife.
“They told me there had been several cases with similar wounds that evening and night.
“There are always idiots in big cities. Fortunately, I was only injured in the leg and not elsewhere. If someone truly wanted to cause serious harm, they would probably have targeted the upper body.”
Photo: Race Pictures
The former F1 driver, who was in Thailand on vacation, admitted the injury had put a major damper on his trip. Salo revealed he had been spending most of his time indoors to aid the healing process, with doctors recommending that he avoid lengthy walks. While his mobility remains limited, he said he can still manage short distances without any issues. He also stressed that he is not experiencing any pain and is only taking a course of antibiotics as part of his recovery.
“Unfortunately, you can’t swim or really do anything. I’ve had to spend most of the time in the hotel room. The wound dries better in air conditioning. The doctor also told me not to walk long distances, but I can still comfortably manage one or two kilometres. I’m not in pain and don’t need painkillers, only antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.”
Writing about the incident on social media, Salo thanked the nurses and doctors who treated him in Thailand, as well as the Thailand Police and Thailand Tourist Police for their swift response. Despite the attack, he described Thailand as one of the safest places in the world and said he looks forward to returning soon.
“Thailand. My trip this time was eventful. So hot and humid here, the food is great and the people are nice and kind. I had a little incident and also had to go to hospital. I want to thank the great nurses and doctors here in Thailand. And a very special thank you to the Thailand Police and Thailand Tourist Police for their effective and amazing response to the incident. Thailand is still one of the safest places in the world. I will be back soon.”