A Spanish motorcyclist fell badly during the second stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. The accident happened on the way from Al-Henakiyah to Ad-Dawadimi at kilometer 448. At 3:52 p.m. local time, the crash of start number 135 was reported there.
It was Carles Falcon, who drove a KTM from the TwinTrail team in the Rally2 class. Falcon took part in the Dakar Rally for the second time. A driver behind stopped and immediately alerted the rescue chain.
16 minutes later the helicopter with the emergency doctors was there. “He had no pulse and had to be resuscitated,” says rally director David Castera. The measures were successful. Falcon was flown by helicopter to hospital in Ad-Dawadimi.
Late on Sunday evening the information came that the Spaniard’s condition was stable. He has been put into an induced coma. Thorough examinations were carried out at the hospital. His team ultimately confirmed that Falcon fractured his C2 cervical vertebra.
This injury required urgent surgery. In order to receive proper treatment, Falcon was transferred to a clinic in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Spaniard remains in artificial deep sleep for the time being.
“Over the next few days, Carles will remain sedated to control the development of the edema in his head,” his team said in a statement. Falcon is said to have hit his head hard when he fell.
Teammate does not continue racing
As soon as there is more information about his health, TwinTrail-Racing wants to inform the public. Falcon’s teammate and compatriot Isaac Feliu did not continue the race. He didn’t start the third stage on Monday.
Another accident had already occurred at the start of the rally. When the cars wanted to start the first stage in Al-‘Ula on Saturday, there was an incident around 200 meters after the starting line with Lionel Baud’s Toyota and a spectator.
The start was canceled because the fan needed medical attention. He was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital. It was a Russian man who broke his tibia and fibula in the incident.