The Dakar Rally confirmed in a statement on Friday morning that French rider Pierre Cherpin had died aged 52 from injuries suffered during the race
Dakar Rally rider Pierre Cherpin has died from his injured sustained in the race.
The 52-year-old suffered a horror crash in the event in Saudi Arabia, being found unconscious during Sunday’s seventh stage.
He underwent surgery on a ‘severe head trauma’ in the town of Sakaka and had been placed into a coma before travelling to France for further treatment.
But he passed away during the flight from Jeddah.
A Dakar Rally statement read: “During his transfer by medical plane from Jeddah to France, Pierre Cherpin died from the injuries caused by his fall during the seventh stage from Ha’il to Sakaka.
“Doctors found him unconscious when they reached him by helicopter. Taken to Sakaka’s hospital, the medical report revealed a severe head trauma with loss of consciousness.
“Urgently operated in neurosurgery, he had since then been kept in an induced coma, his condition having remained stable over the past few days
“He was airlifted from Sakaka to Jeddah’s hospital from where he was going to be transferred to Lille’s hospital.”
Frenchman Cherpin was racing on a Husqvarna 450 bike in what was his fourth Dakar Rally.
Two competitors died in the 2020 event, Portuguese motorcyclist Paulo Goncalves and Dutch rider Edwin Straver.
The Dakar statement added: “This 52-year-old entrepreneur and sailing enthusiast, had no other ambitions than to live an adventure, without really worrying about the podium
[He once said]: ‘I am an amateur, I don’t want to win but to discover landscapes that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise. Everything is exciting: riding the bike, living your passion, getting to know yourself’.
“The entire Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to his family, relatives and friends.”
The Dakar Rally is an endurance event taking place over 14 days with 322 entrants in a range of vehicles including trucks, bikes, cars and quad bikes.
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