Surgeon sues for £10m over trembling hand from snow mobile crash

Supercar holiday firm accused

- Nev Ayling

A TOP neurosurgeon left with a trembling hand after a snowmobile crash on an adventure holiday organised by UK supercar firm McLaren is suing for more than £10million.

Dr Andrew Cannestra, 53, a £1.6million-a-year spine specialist, suffered serious head injuries in the accident in Lapland. He and his partner went on a £23,000 four-night break booked through the Pure McLaren Arctic Experience in 2020.

The doctor understood to be American - had a guided snowmobile trek as part of a package which included driving McLaren cars on ice.

But the surgeon said he crashed into a tree at up to 40mph soon after climbing on to the Lynx Xtrim snowmobile for the first time.

Blame

Dr Cannestra is suing McLaren Automotive Events Ltd - which sold the polar thrills package for over £10million. He claims he will be forced to retire in the next few years due to the impact of the injuries he suffered. But lawyers for the company, based at the McLaren Group's HQ in Woking, Surrey, deny liability, insisting that the local guide did his utmost to ensure the snow trek was safe.

They also suggest that Dr Cannestra was partly to blame in failing to take sufficient care. London's High Court heard that the Florida-based surgeon and his partner signed up for the Arctic Circle holiday in February 2020.