Pierre Cherpin was a 52-year-old amateur rally rider competing in his fourth Dakar Rally. The Frenchman was being flown home after suffering severe head injuries.

Cherpin was found unconscious during Sunday’s seventh stage across the Arabian Desert. After undergoing surgery on ‘severe head trauma’ in Sakaka, he had been placed in a coma before travelling back to France for further treatment.

The 52-year-old then passed away during a medical plane flight from the Saudi city of Jeddah. A Dakar Rally statement read: During his transfer by medical plane from Jeddah to France, Pierre Cherpin died from the injuries caused by his fall during the seventh stage from Ha’il to Sakaka. The driver crashed at km 178, around 1:00 pm.

Doctors found him unconscious when they reached him by helicopter. Taken to Sakaka’s hospital, the medical report revealed a severe head trauma with loss of consciousness.

The Dakar statement added: This 52-year-old entrepreneur and sailing enthusiast, had no other ambitions than to live an adventure, without really worrying about the podium.

[He once said]: ‘I am an amateur, I don’t want to win but to discover landscapes that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise. Everything is exciting: riding the bike, living your passion, getting to know yourself’.

The entire Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to his family, relatives and friends.

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