The Catalan motorcycle racer Carles Falcón, 45, was last night “in an induced coma” with cerebral edema, and with “uncertain” recovery prospects, according to his team, the Twin Trail, of Castellolí.
Falcón, admitted to the Al Duwadimi hospital, suffered a hard fall at kilometer 448 of the second stage, around 3:52 p.m. local time.
Pilot of the Original category (without mechanical assistance), he was found “unconscious and without a pulse” on the track after suffering a blow to the head, and required resuscitation, according to what his team informed La Vanguardia.
The Dakar organization sent a medical helicopter to the scene of the accident, where Falcón was “in a condition that was considered serious,” although the race director, David Castera, later downgraded him to “stable.” According to his team, Falcón, from Tarragona, could suffer an injury to the C2 vertebra.
It so happens that his teammate, Isaac Feliu, also suffered a serious accident two years ago that took him between life and death. Feliu had to retire from the race in this edition in the first stage due to mechanical problems.
The one from Castellolí returned to the Dakar after having suffered a serious accident in his first participation in the Rally in 2022. The Catalan pilot collided with his motorcycle at high speed and suffered a severe blow to the head that almost cost him his life. .
He is the fourth Spaniard to say goodbye to the Dakar in the motorcycle category in just two stages held. On the first day, Feliu and the Valencian Tosha Schareina left, who had to be evacuated by helicopter after injuring his arm. Today, in addition to Carles Falcón’s accident, Lorenzo Santolino from Salamanca has also left with a mechanical problem.
