Fernando Alonso: 'I am lucky to be here and thankful to be here'

Fernando Alonso says he is lucky to be alive after walking away from a terrifying high-speed crash at the Australian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard's car slammed into the track wall at 200 mph after colliding with Esteban Gutierrez's machine before barrel rolling twice.

The wreckage landed upside down on the gravel -- but Alonso emerged unscathed.

"I am lucky to be here and thankful to be here. It was a scary moment and a scary crash," said the 34-year-old.

"When I stopped, I saw a little space to get out of the car and I went out quickly just to make sure that my mum, who was watching the race on TV at home, could see that I was OK."

Gutierrez, who was also unhurt, hugged Alonso at the side of the track before both men were taken for medical assessment.

Speaking on Monday, Alonso's teammate Jenson Button said he believed the controversial halo device, designed to shield a driver's head from debris and due to be brought in next season, would have helped.

Critics of the halo say it would take longer to get drivers out of the cockpit after a crash.

But Button said: "There was no need for him to get out [of the car] in that situation.

"There's more safety risk of things hitting our head than anything happening when the car's upside down."