Gerard Laurenssen from Berkel-Enschot was an eyewitness of a serious accident in the Dakar Rally. During the first stage on Saturday, racing driver Lionel Baud collided with a spectator in the desert. Laurenssen, a photographer in the Dakar Rally for many years, stood five meters away and was shocked by what he saw happen.
Gerard is only ready when things go wrong. “The first car comes around the corner and I take the first few photos, but out of the corner of my eye I see something moving. Not much later I hear a bang and see something flying through the air,” he says a day later.
Frenchman Lionel Baud collided with a spectator. Laurenssen is the first to reach the victim. “He lay there motionless in the sand. His ankle was not properly tucked under his body and all he could do was sob. I really felt like he was going to take his last breath at any moment.”
“You could see him getting weaker and weaker.”
Fortunately, medical assistance is quickly on site, so the photographer from Berkel-Enschot does not have to do more than just wipe some sand from his face. The French driver also quickly returned to the victim who was in serious condition.
“You saw him getting weaker, but fortunately he was still breathing,” says a somewhat shaken Laurenssen. The victim has been taken to hospital. Although the doctors are not allowed to say anything about medical records, the spectator seems to be doing well.
“A day later I unconsciously distanced myself a little more.”
The accident had a major impact on Laurenssen, who even briefly considered quitting his work as a photographer in the Dakar Rally. “I was very emotional about it. It really means something to me. This man loves the same sport as I do. I actually wanted to quit, but after a good night’s sleep I decided that I cannot abandon my team.”
“But it really affects me,” he continues his story, looking at the photos he took of the accident. “It happened five-six meters away from you. It was a huge blow, as can be seen from the damage to the car. He was driving more than one hundred kilometers per hour.”
Yet Laurenssen continues. “But a day later I unconsciously distanced myself from the rally a little more. Although I don’t think this could have happened to me. Supporters are less experienced. They often don’t know where they can safely stand. That is a point of attention for the organization, otherwise this will happen more often.”
Every evening you can see a new episode of Bivak Brabant Dakar on TV (8:45 PM and 10:45 PM) and on YouTube. We bring you the latest news from the Dakar Rally and the most beautiful reports from the desert.
