Rider dies in Dakar Argentina-Chile Rally
Written on January 9, 2009 – 12:20 am | by BikersUnite
Pascal Terry, a French motorcycle rider died in the 2009 Dakar Argentina-Chile Rally. The French rider had been missing since Sunday’s second stage that took place between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madrid alongwith his Yamaha WR450F motorcycle.
Terry had notified race organisers on Sunday that he had run out of petrol on his Yamaha but it was believed he rejoined the rally with the help of another competitor, all further efforts by organisers to contact Terry failed and search operations were launched without any success.
Satellite tracking eventually showed his bike stopped. His emergency signal was picked up by race officials in Paris but Argentine organizers weren’t notified until Monday morning, when a search was launched. Rescuers had a difficult time because of the dense bush and was found between Abramo and Cuchillo Co, about 190 kilometers (120 miles) south of Santa Rosa.
Terry, a first-time Dakar racer, had taken off his helmet and laid in the shade of a tree, race officials said in a statement, He was seated in a shady spot approximately 50 feet from his WR450F and was equipped with food and water. The cause of death was due to pulmonary edema according to the autopsy. The forensic report also said his body showed no signs of injury or dehydration, and he would have died between nightfall on Sunday and dawn on Monday.
The Dakar Rally has claimed the lives of numerous competitors, crew, media and fans since it began in 1979. Two motorcyclists died in the last rally, in 2007.
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