Paris (AFP)
French amateur driver Pierre Cherpin, who suffered from a head trauma after a fall during the seventh stage of the Dakar 2021, died during his transfer to France, the organizer of the rally-raid announced on Friday.
"It was during his transfer by medical plane between Jeddah and France that" this 52-year-old entrepreneur "died of injuries resulting from a fall during the 7th stage Ha'il - Sakaka , January 10, "according to a statement.
This is the first death of the 2021 edition of the event.
Last year, the Portuguese Paulo Gonçalves was killed during the 7th stage, between Riyadh and Wadi Ad-Dawasir in Saudi Arabia.
For Pierre Cherpin, this was his fourth participation (2009, 2012, 2015 and 2021).
After his fall, "helpers dispatched to the scene by helicopter had joined him while he was unconscious. Taken to Sakaka hospital, his medical check-up showed a serious head trauma with loss of consciousness," according to the report. communicated.
"Operated urgently in neurosurgery, he had since been kept in an artificial coma, his condition having remained stable over the last few days. He had been transported by medical plane from Sakaka to the hospital in Jeddah, then to France, where he was due. join the Lille hospital, ”says the organizer.
Dan of the comments reported in the press release, Pierre Cherpin claimed to be "amateur".
"I'm not going there to win but to discover landscapes that I would never have had the opportunity to see. Everything is exhilarating, riding a racing motorbike, living your passion, getting to know each other", had- he says.
sm-bde-ng / lrb
© 2021 AFP