Sid Watkins, Former medical head of F1 for nearly 30 years has passed away. No one did more to further driver safety than Professor Sid Watkins. RIP.
Just been reading this, brings back chilling memories 
The man affectionately known within the sport as ‘Prof’, an infectious character and a big part of the Formula One furniture for over three decades, is widely credited with a dramatic improvement in safety during that period.
A close friend of the late great Ayrton Senna, Watkins is particularly remembered for his role that fateful weekend at Imola in 1994, which claimed the life of the Brazilian and another driver, Austrian Roland Ratzenberger.
Watkins famously advised Senna to quit after seeing how badly shaken the Brazilian was by Ratzenberger’s death, as well as another serious accident involving Senna’s young countryman Rubens Barrichello.
"What else do you need to do?" Watkins asked Senna. "You've been world champion three times. You are obviously the quickest driver. Give it up and let's go fishing".
Senna replied: "Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on."
Twenty-four hours later Watkins attended to Senna after his fatal crash at Tamburello, performing an on-site tracheotomy.
He later recalled: “He looked serene. I raised his eyelids and it was clear from his pupils that he had a massive brain injury. We lifted him from the cockpit and laid him on the ground. As we did, he sighed and, although I am not religious, I felt his spirit depart at that moment.”
