An “adrenaline junkie” brain surgeon who sued McLaren for £14m after a snowmobile crash has had his case thrown out after post-accident texts emerged of him telling company staff “No worries … sh*t happens …[do] I owe you guys a snowmobile”.
High-flying neurosurgeon Andrew Cannestra suffered multiple injuries when the skidoo he was riding careered off a forest track in Lapland during a £23,000 luxury break booked through the Pure McLaren Arctic Experience for him and his then partner, Kaitlin Mealor.
The 54-year-old medic, who specialises in spinal surgery, struck a tree after negotiating a forest turn and was out cold for 30 minutes following the impact in February 2020.
He went on to sue McLaren Automotive Events Ltd, claiming the impact of the crash on his future earnings alone exceeds £14m.
But lawyers for McLaren Automotive denied blame, insisting that on-the-spot guides did their utmost to ensure a safe skidoo trip, carefully briefing Mr Cannestra and his partner before they set off.
Dismissing the claim, Mr Justice Richie said that Mr Cannestra – who was dubbed an “adrenaline junkie” by his then partner – had “wanted more speed” and had caused the crash himself when he “accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes”.
The briefing he and his partner received before riding had been adequate, the judge said, adding: “They were both on a McLaren ice driving holiday. Adrenaline cannot have been irrelevant to the experience of driving on ice in a superpowered car. There is nothing wrong in that. Life is for living and excitement and risk are part of that.
“He wanted more speed. He should have understood that being guided at higher speed would be more challenging and risky.”
Neil Block KC – for Mr Cannestra – had told London’s High Court that both riders were “absolute novices” and argued their guides should have done more to explain the detailed layout of their route through the forest.
The surgeon crashed after a pause in the journey during which his guide had changed the drive mode so that the doctor’s snowmobile could hit higher…
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