Amateur rider Carles Falcón (Tarragona, 45 years old) died on Monday, January 15 in Spain as a result of neurological damage caused by cardiorespiratory arrest at the time of his accident in the second stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally last Sunday, January 7. The TwinTrail Racing team confirmed the death of the rider this afternoon after doctors deemed his condition irreversible.
Falcón had been transferred to Spain on January 12 by medical plane and had since been admitted to the ICU of an unspecified hospital and location to respect the family's desire for privacy. The rider, who was taking part in his second Dakar Rally, had to be resuscitated at the scene of the accident. In the first instance, he was transferred by medical helicopter, in serious condition, to Al Duwadimi hospital, in the Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia, where he was induced into a coma. The motorcyclist, who was left without a pulse and unconscious after the hit, had the incident at kilometre 448 of the 461-kilometre special stage, which started at 7.20am local time in Al Hanakiyah. The impact occurred at 15:52 p.m. and another competitor was the one who immediately alerted the assistance, which took 16 minutes to go to the scene. As a result of the blow to the head, he suffered a cervical fracture and a traumatic brain injury with cerebral edema.
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Amateur rider Carles Falcón in an induced coma after a fall in the second stage of the Dakar
The pilot's team reported on the 8th that the planned operation to repair the fracture of the C2 vertebra was postponed as the most immediate priority was to reduce the edema. The doctors also confirmed other injuries to those already known: fracture of five ribs, left wrist and collarbone. The Catalan was admitted in the early hours of Sunday 7 to the hospital in Riyadh in the Intensive Care Unit awaiting surgery. When he was transferred to Spain, the doctors had not yet been able to operate on the pilot.
Falcón left his job as a computer engineer a few years ago to dedicate himself to the world of adventure bikes, accompanying his friend Isaac Feliu on the Dakar adventure in both 2022 and 2024. Together they promoted the TwinTrail Racing Team project, funded in part with the support of the TwinTrail Racing Team's more than 800 supporters. "Carles was a smiling person, always active, who passionately enjoyed everything he did, especially the bikes. He has left us doing something that was his dream, racing the Dakar. I was enjoying myself, I was happy on the bike. We must remember him for his smile and for the happiness he generated in everyone," his team shared.
"Motorcycle instructor and motorcycle tour guide by passion. There are many who have learned from him. He taught with patience, energy and happiness, he made everyone enjoy the bike. This is what he has left us and we will always keep with us, all of us who have been close to him, family, friends, colleagues and supporters," the statement continues.
Since 1979, 78 deaths have been recorded on the Dakar, 46 of them non-competitors. Falcón is the fourth competitor and third rider to die since the race was moved to Saudi Arabia. Last year, an Italian spectator was killed during the ninth stage of the rally. The family and team of the Catalan rider have asked that privacy be respected in the farewell ceremonies that will take place in the coming days.
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