Carles Falcon, a celebrated star of the Rally Dakar, tragically passed away at the age of 45 after a severe accident during the second stage of the renowned race last week.
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Falcon, an icon of motorcycling and a Spanish rider, was competing for the second time in his career in this annual competition, considered one of the most challenging and longest endurance races in the world.
The tragic accident occurred last Monday (8), when Falcon was just a few kilometers away from completing the special stage from Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi. During the race, the rider suffered a serious accident resulting in multiple injuries, including cerebral edema due to a fracture of the C2 vertebra, as well as fractures in five ribs, the left wrist, and the clavicle.
After the accident, Falcon received immediate medical assistance on-site and was promptly transported by plane to Al Duwadimi hospital for additional treatment. Unfortunately, on the following Monday (15), Falcon’s team announced his passing. “This Monday, January 15, Carles left us,” stated the team’s announcement. The medical team confirmed that the neurological damage suffered by the rider due to the cardiac and respiratory arrest at the time of the accident was irreversible.
The Rally Dakar, covering a distance of 7,891 kilometers from AlUla to Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, is known for its extreme difficulty, featuring five main vehicle categories, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, UTVs, and quads.
Photo: Instagram @cfalconb