<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=156 align=left bgcolor=#ffffff border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td>
</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr></tbody></table>
New Zealand rally ace Possum Bourne was more severely injured in Good Friday's crash than was first thought.
His family made a special announcement at 7pm this evening.
The rally driver has been in a medically induced coma in Dunedin Hospital since April 18th.
Bourne was injured in a serious car crash when he was checking out the course for the Race to the Sky mountain climb near Wanaka.
Subaru spokesman John Coker says he suffered a severe brain injury at the initial incident, and doctors have managed his treatment very actively until now.
However, the full extent and severity of the injury has only become clear over the last weekend, when medical staff decreased ventilation support.
Mr Coker says Bourne's condition deteriorated and doctors had to put him back on full life support.
The family says his condition has been re-evaluated today, and a brain scan carried out.
They say that confirms the original injury was very severe.
The family says continuing full life support is no longer in the driver's best interests.
