Doctors satisfied with Lauda's condition after lung transplant

Doctors who operated on Niki Lauda say they are pleased with the progress the Austrian is making in his recovery from a lung transplant he underwent on Thursday. Lauda is currently recovering from the operation in a hospital in Vienna.

Walter Klepetko, one of the doctors that operated on Lauda, told Austrian broadcaster ORF: “Everything is currently going very well and we are very satisfied.”

Klepetko also added that because of Lauda's age, the process of recovery would be a little longer than the customary three-week period. 

The head of thoracic surgery explained that the 69-year-old's fiery accident at the Nurburgring in 1976 had no bearing on the decision doctors made to replace Lauda's lungs.

“One can absolutely assume that lung transplantation is not a late consequence of the fire accident,” he clarified.

Lauda underwent surgery on Thursday after being transported to AKH Vienna hospital via private helicopter having been on holiday in Ibiza. He will remain there throughout his recovery from the procedure.