An appeal to help fund the treatment of British Formula 4 racing driver Billy Monger has exceeded its target within 24 hours of its launch.
The 17-year-old crashed into the back of another car which appeared to have stopped on the track during a race at Donington Park on Sunday.
Monger had to be extracted from his vehicle at the Leicestershire track and airlifted to hospital, where he had both his legs amputated, and remains in an induced coma.
In conjunction with the teenager's family, a fundraising page has been set up on JustGiving to raise money for "the care, treatments and therapies required by Billy in the immediate future and going forward, helping him to return to a full and active life".
Launched with a target of raising £260,000, the page had raised in excess of £386,000 by 9am on Thursday, with notable figures from the world of motorsport raising awareness of the appeal.
Jenson Button donated £15,000 and wrote on Instagram: "This guy needs our help so if you can please donate, I will be doing as much as I can to help this dude out."
Many other individuals and organisations linked to Formula 1, including Lewis Hamilton, Jolyon Palmer, Esteban Ocon, Felipe Massa, Mark Webber and the Mercedes, Force India and McLaren teams, all wrote messages of support on social media.
A statement on the official British F4 website said that Monger is in a "critical, but stable condition".
Giuseppe Labellarte
