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Spanish Formula One racing driver Fernando Alonso had a miraculous escape from a frightening car crash at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.

On the 18th lap, Alono's McLaren, going at almost 200 miles per hour, clipped Esteban Gutierrez's Haas at Turn 3. The impact was instantaneous – Alonso hurtled into a barrier, flipped over a couple of times and finally crashed head-first into another barrier (video above).

It was a frightening moment, but after the dust had settled, Alonso walked out of his destroyed McLaren and gingerly walked over to Gutierrez as the pair embraced.

Speaking later to the media, he said that he was just "super happy" at being able to talk after the incident. "'I'm okay, I'm trying to put everything in place again," said the Spaniard. "It was a scary crash. I'm lucky to be here and happy to be here, and thankful to be here – especially to the FIA and all the safety, thanks to that probably I'm alive."